Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have been sensational for Chelsea this campaign. The pair have been very consistent under Enzo Maresca, with the duo a major reason why the Blues are doing so well.
Palmer's influence on the Chelsea first team is known throughout the footballing world. The 22-year-old has 11 goals and six assists in 19 appearances in all competitions this term. He is Chelsea's talisman and probably the west Londoners' best player.
Colwill's influence perhaps goes under the radar but the 21-year-old has been a rock at centre-back this campaign. The defender has played in 16 of Chelsea's 17 Premier League games, with his only rest coming in the 5-1 win at Southampton earlier this month.
With the busy festive schedule upon us, it will be important to Maresca to have both players available as much as possible as Chelsea mount an unlikely title challenge. The Blues are currently four points off leaders Liverpool and can go within one point if they beat Fulham on Boxing Day.
It may be a worry, then, that Palmer and Colwill are close to a suspension. As per Premier League rules, players who receive a total of five yellow cards in their first 19 matches will be given a one-match suspension.
So far, Chelsea have played 17 games, with Palmer and Colwill picking up three yellow cards each. Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Noni Madueke have also picked up three yellow cards so far, which means five players are walking something of a suspension tightrope. That means, should any one of Palmer, Colwill, Caicedo, Lavia or Madueke pick up a yellow card against both Fulham and Ipswich, they will be suspended for the clash at Crystal Palace on January 4.
Robert Sanchez and Nicolas Jackson need to be extra careful, with the pair currently on four yellow cards for the season. Of course, following Chelsea's 19th league match of the season, the five yellow card suspension rule will no longer apply. As per Premier League rules, should a player pick up 10 yellow cards in their first 32 games, they will receive a two-game suspension.
With Fulham up next, it's vitally important all of Palmer, Colwill, Caicedo, Lavia, Madueke, Sanchez and Jackson do not pick up a booking. Maresca will certainly be hoping so, anyway.