Premier League’s TWENTY-SEVEN stars on the brink of a ban: Man United captain Bruno Fernandes, £157m-worth of stars at Chelsea and an in-form Arsenal star are all walking a disciplinary tightrope

• Manchester United are facing clashes with Liverpool West Ham and Aston Villa 
• Villa, Everton, Luton and Sheffield United all have three players on four yellows 
• Manchester United have snakes in their dressing room – It’s All Kicking Off 

Bruno Fernandes is one of a number of Premier League stars who will need to be on their best behaviour in the next five games in order to avoid a one-game ban. 

After 19 games of the Premier League season, all accrued yellow cards become redundant, meaning that players on four, nine or 14 yellow cards cannot receive bans for additional cards. 

With 14 games down, that means there are five remaining for 27 top-flight players to avoid another booking, and potentially not leave their side short as we head into the hectic festive period.  

Those of course who pick up five after the halfway mark will still pick up a ban, however. 

Manchester United skipper Fernandes, therefore, will need to be careful to avoid handing yet another blow to a beleaguered Red Devils, particularly with key clashes on the horizon. 

Bruno Fernandes has already picked up four yellow cards meaning he could be at risk of a ban

The United skipper could leave his side in a lurch ahead of clashes with Liverpool, Aston Villa and West Ham

Chelsea could  also lose two key stars to suspension as they are both on four yellow cards

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Chelsea are next up on Wednesday in west London, before the visit of Bournemouth at the weekend, followed by meetings with Liverpool, West Ham and Aston Villa in what is a very tricky run of games for Erik ten Hag’s side. 

The Blues themselves will also be wary of two of their own stars who are eyeing a one-game suspension, with both Raheem Sterling and Enzo Fernandez – who have been so key to Mauricio Pochettino’s plans – on four bookings so far this season. 

Top-of-the-table Arsenal could lose Kai Havertz just as he hits form, with Newcastle potentially set to lose Sean Longstaff and Kieran Trippier also on four each. 

Anthony Gordon could even pick up a two-game ban with six yellows to his name, which would be a bitter blow to a Newcastle side already running on fumes with a number of first-team injuries.

Aston Villa, Everton, Luton and new boss Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United will all be on tenterhooks with three players each one card away from a ban, too, while Nottingham Forest and Wolves have two. 

West Ham duo Emerson and Edson Alvarez both have six yellows, while Lucas Paqueta has already reached his quote of five, and Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie could hand Ange Postecoglou another defensive headache should he pick up another booking. 

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk – recently shown a red for dissent towards Anthony Taylor – could get another ban should he find himself in the book again in the next five games, too. 

Arsenal midfielder Kai Havertz is at risk of a fifth yellow just as he hits form for the Gunners

Newcastle star Kieran Trippier is also walking on a disciplinary tight rope on four yellow cards

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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