Liverpool and Man Utd facing huge suspension threat ahead of Premier League games

The Reds face losing one of their star players should they pick up a booking this weekend, while Manchester United face the possibility of being without two key men

Liverpool and Manchester United have several star players on four yellow cards going into this weekend's Premier League games.

League rules state that one more booking for the Reds' Alexis Mac Allister or United's Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo will mean they will miss their next game. Liverpool face Aston Villa at Anfield in the 8pm evening slot on Saturday while United host Leicester at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Arne Slot will be concerned about the potential of Mac Allister receiving a yellow and being absent for Liverpool's tie with Southampton, which is set for the Sunday following the international break. The Argentinian has been a mainstay in Slot's midfield with the former Brighton man featuring in all of the Red's 10 Premier League games so far this season, as well as being a huge influence on the Merseysiders currently occupying top spot in the Premier League.

United meanwhile will be taking on the Foxes with caretaker boss Ruud van Nistelrooy in charge of his final game for the club. New head coach Ruben Amorim is expected to start work with the Red Devils on Monday, November 11.

The Portuguese will be keeping one eye on the Leicester tie as one wrong move from either Mainoo or Martinez could see either, or both, ruled out for his first game in charge of United - an away clash with Ipswich Town on Sunday, November 24. Martinez has made nine appearances at the heart of United's defence so far this season.

However, the Argentinian defender has picked up yellow cards in ties with Chelsea, Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Liverpool. Mainoo on the other hand has made seven appearances for United and received bookings against Aston Villa, Southampton, Brighton, and as with Martinez, in the 3-0 defeat by Liverpool.

While Mac Allister has been an integral part of Slot's engine room, the World Cup winner has picked up his four yellow cards in consecutive fixtures. Games against Brighton, Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace saw the 25-year-old earn a place in the referee's book.

Players who receive a total of five yellow cards in their first 19 games are given a one-match suspension. Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson became the latest player to join a group of 23 players, all walking on thin ice when he picked up his fourth against United last weekend.

The list of players in danger of suspension also includes Newcastle trio Fabian Schar, Joelinton and Dan Burn, and Spurs' Micky van de Ven. Bournemouth players Ryan Christie, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo are also at risk.

Should a player be booked 10 times across their first 32 Premier League matches, they will be suspended for two games. However, yellow cards are not carried over to the EFL Cup or FA Cup.

Liverpool will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table when they take on Villa at Anfield on Saturday. However, Unai Emery's side will be hoping to put a spanner in the works and get back on track after just one win in their last five Premier League games and transfer their red-hot Champions League form to what will be a testing affair on Merseyside.

United's 2pm kick-off with Steve Cooper's Leicester will offer an opportunity for the Red Devils to further stabilise under interim coach Van Nistelrooy after he oversaw a 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend. However, United and Liverpool will have to ensure that Mainoo, Martinez, and Mac Allister stay in line.

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