Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of the Premier League visit of Manchester United, sitting just one yellow card away from a one-match ban.
The Argentina international was booked in the win over Crystal Palace, taking his tally to four for the season. Under Premier League rules, players who collect five yellow cards in the first 19 matches are suspended for one game.
Ban would rule him out of Merseyside derby
If Mac Allister is booked against United, he would be forced to sit out the first Merseyside derby of the season away at Everton the following week. The midfielder must now be careful in games against Man United, Everton, Sunderland, Chelsea, Leeds, Tottenham, Hull, Aston Villa and Coventry.
Liverpool's cut-off point for a fifth yellow card suspension is the home game against Coventry on January 2, 2027. After that, players booked 10 times in the first 32 matches face a two-game ban.
Other Liverpool players on three yellow cards
Ronald Araujo, Bradley Barcola, Milos Kerkez and Virgil van Dijk are all on three yellow cards, while Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz are on two and remain in danger of suspension.
Liverpool head into the United game in strong form, having bounced back from defeats to Arsenal and Fenerbahce by beating Crystal Palace at the weekend to move into the Premier League top four. They have also taken nine points from a possible 12 in the Champions League league phase and could reach the Carabao Cup semi-final if they beat Bournemouth at Anfield before Christmas.
The Reds were beaten in the corresponding fixture just over a year ago when Harry Maguire scored a late winner at Anfield. It remains to be seen whether Ryan Gravenberch and Jeremie Frimpong will recover from injury in time to be available for selection.
