Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has had numerous issues to deal with this season, but discipline hasn’t been one
City have received 33 bookings in 16 Premier League matches so far which means they are one of the best behaved teams across the entire division.
Though they have received a red card, albeit in somewhat harsh circumstances when Rico Lewis was given his marching orders for two bookable offences in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
That saw the versatile defender sit out last weekend’s Manchester derby as City’s crisis deepened.
Despite leading going into the final five minutes, Guardiola’s side contrived to lose the game as Manchester United struck twice in as many minutes to snatch all three points and take the derby bragging rights.
With just one win in seven league games - 11 across all competitions - it is turning out to be a disappointing Premier League title defence for City.
In a bid to arrest his side’s poor run of form, Guardiola will be hopeful that his defensive injury crisis eases over the festive period but there are doubts over Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.
Taking into account City are in action three times in eight days, the Spaniard will also hope he doesn't have to deal with any suspensions during such a hectic period.
Suspension risk: One more yellow card for Man City would see Bernardo Silva serve a one-match ban
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Which Man City players are close to a suspension?
As every club have already been made fully aware of this season, players who pick up five yellow cards in the first 19 matches of the Premier League season are hit with a one-match ban.
This means Man City’s final match of 2024 away at Leicester City on December 29 is the final game in which suspensions will be handed out for a fifth yellow card.
From that point onwards, players who are booked 10 times in the first 32 matches of the campaign are suspended for two games.
Bernardo Silva is only one yellow card away from a ban, while Akanji, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovavic and Ederson are all on three so therefore need to watch their step over the next three matches against Villa, Everton and Leicester.
Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, Lewis and Savinho have more breathing room on two yellow cards and therefore just have to avoid a booking against Villa to no longer be at risk of a one-game suspension.
Four yellow cards: Bernardo Silva
Three yellow cards: Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, Ederson, Manuel Akanji