Six Chelsea players still face two-match suspension risk ahead of key Premier League date
We are now approaching the cut-off point for Premier League players to pick up a two-match suspension for being yellow carded 10 times and Chelsea have six at risk
Chelsea’s narrow victory over Newcastle United on Monday evening lifted the Blues to within a point of the top half of the Premier League table. The west Londoners are now just a single point behind the Magpies after picking up a deserved win on the night.
Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with his players’ effort and application throughout the 90-plus minutes at Stamford Bridge. “Today was great to show the players fighting, performing, okay not maybe great, but yes of course caring about the team,” Pochettino told reporters.
“And in the end beating a team that last season was fighting for the Premier League, the top four and fighting in the Champions League. And this season have good players, it’s not easy. Newcastle are a very good team. Good credit to the team and to everyone.”
Pochettino made two changes from the draw at Brentford nine days prior, with Raheem Sterling and Marc Cucurella replacing Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill. There were early signs of Newcastle’s danger and threat, particularly on the counter-attack, but Chelsea were able to gain control of the game.
With the business end of the season well upon us, a significant date is approaching very shortly. As per Premier League rules, any player earning 10 bookings from his side’s first 32 Premier League matches will serve a two-match ban in the same competition.
Chelsea have played 27 games so far this season in the Premier League. That means the Blues’ cut-off points comes in five games’ time when they face Brighton in their 32nd match of the season. Although that could change, with re-arranged fixtures against Arsenal and Tottenham still to be confirmed.
As it stands, Nicolas Jackson is on nine yellow cards, meaning he is one booking away from a two-match suspension. Moises Caicedo is on eight yellows, Cole Palmer has seven, while Axel Disasi, Enzo Fernandez and Sterling all have six cautions to their name this term.
For the latter four – Palmer, Disasi, Enzo and Sterling – it seems unlikely they will face a suspension this season. Palmer would have to be booked three times in the next five matches, while Disasi, Fernandez and Sterling would need to be shown a yellow card on four of those games.
Jackson and Caicedo, though, are much more at risk. It has been over a month since Jackson was last booked, with his latest caution coming when he was on the bench against Crystal Palace. When Chelsea scored a stoppage time winner, Jackson charged the width of the pitch to celebrate with his teammates in front of the away section at Selhurst Park.
Meanwhile, Caicedo, who often commits fouls for the Blues, picked up a yellow card in the win against Newcastle on Monday night. With the lack of options Chelsea have in the centre of midfield, with Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu still sidelined because of injury, the Blues cannot really afford to be without Caicedo – especially for a two-match period.