As we enter the business end of the season, fans will be hoping that their clubs have all their players fit and available for any potential crunch matches.
Though Liverpool have one hand on the title, there is still a chance they could be caught by Arsenal, while the race of Europe and league survival is very much alive.
There’s plenty to play for – with less than 10 games remaining – and all eyes will be on the midweek matches set to take place over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The rules state that if a player accumulates 10 yellow cards, they will be suspended for two games. However, those cards must be picked up in their side’s first 32 matches of the campaign.
As it stands, there are currently three players – Will Hughes, Matheus Cunha and Anthony Gordon – who are ruled out for this week’s matches.
There are a staggering number of Premier League stars walking a disciplinary tight-rope
Players who receive a total of 10 yellow cards in a season will receive a two-match suspension
Wolves star Cunha will miss a further game – his side’s away trip to Ipswich – after his ban was extended for ‘punching and headbutting’ Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez.
However, away from the already banned stars, there are a whole heap of players who are walking a disciplinary tight-rope as we head into the final stretch of the season.
The likes of Ryan Christie, Antoine Semenyo, Moises Caicedo, Joelinton, Liam Delap, and Flynn Downes lead the way with nine yellow cards each.
Noticeably, there are two Bournemouth stars in the mix, with their front-foot play style proving to have come at a cost as they head into a crucial part of the campaign.
A step behind are Morgan Rogers, Sam Morsy, Boubakary Soumare, Manuel Ugarte, Dan Burn, Nicolas Domínguez, Ryan Yates, and Tomas Soucek.
They all sit on eight yellow cards and are just two cautions away from missing out on two matches in the league campaign.
Rogers, Ugarte and Burn would all prove to be huge losses to their respective sides as they
Meanwhile, a larger group of players – including Darwin Nunez, Harry Maguire, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Paqueta, and Jurrien Timber – have all received seven yellow cards.
Nunez’s relentless pressing has made him a handful for defenders, but his aggressive approach has landed him in the referee’s book more than most forwards.
Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez is among the players who run the risk of suspension
Despite starting just 15 league matches in the campaign, Harry Maguire has seven yellow cards
Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie (second from right) and Antoine Semenyo (right) are on the list
Maguire and Timber, both key defensive figures, have often been booked for tactical fouls and physical battles.
Bentancur’s return from injury has been important for Spurs, though his discipline will need to improve if he is to remain available.
Paqueta, known for his flair and creativity, has also been guilty of mistimed tackles and dissent.
With the final stretch of the season approaching, discipline will be key. Teams fighting for titles, European places, or survival will need these players to stay on the right side of referees – or risk missing pivotal games when they are needed most.
