Revealed: The Manchester City players close to Premier League suspension through yellow card accumulation | OneFootball

Manchester City have a short list of first-team players that are at risk of a Premier League match suspension through yellow card accumulation.

Pep Guardiola and his squad are continuing to work towards a huge recovery in their form this season, having lost nine matches in their last 12 across all competitions leaving them low in confidence, energy, and hope of a successful campaign.

The latest of those defeats came at the hands of Aston Villa at Villa Park, with goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers either side of the half-time interval putting the game beyond doubt, despite a late goal from Phil Foden halving the deficit.

And matters may get worse in terms of available players heading into the New Year, with two matches remaining for Manchester City in this calendar year where their players will need to be on their best behaviour to avoid a suspension.

As per Premier League rules, players who pick up five yellow cards in the first 19 matches of the English top-flight season are issued with a one-match ban, meaning City’s trip to Leicester on December 29 is the final game in which suspensions will be handed out.

Beyond that point in the season, Premier League players who are booked 10 times in the first 32 matches of the campaign are then suspended for two matches. But which Manchester City players are at risk?

Bernardo Silva is only one yellow card away from a ban, meaning he must avoid a yellow card against Everton and Leicester City if he wishes to swerve around a one-match suspension in the Premier League.

Furthermore, all of Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovavic, Jack Grealish, Rico Lewis and Ederson are all on three yellow cards and as such need to avoid two yellow cards in the clubs next two matches if they wish to not pick up a one-match ban.

Manchester City will kick-off the New Year in Premier League action as they are scheduled to welcome West Ham United to the Etihad Stadium in a traditional 3PM kick-off slot on Saturday 4 January.

That outing will be followed by a mouthwatering FA Cup third round clash with League Two side Salford City, while the first month of the year will also bring huge games in the UEFA Champions League.

City know that should they wish to secure themselves a play-off match for a place in the last-16 of the competition, they must take at least three points from their next two outings away to Paris Saint-Germain and at home to Club Brugge at the end of the month.