Three Liverpool players close to suspension

Three Liverpool stars are walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of Liverpool's trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham United.

Darwin Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo have all received four cautions already this season and if any receive a fifth against the Hammers, they will receive a one-match suspension as a result. Premier League rules state if players collect five yellow cards in the competition in the opening 19 matches, that they will be punished.

That sees the Reds players having to navigate past Julen Lopetegui's side without a caution, and also past Manchester United. The January clash against the Red Devils will be Arne Slot's 19th Premier League match in charge.

Ibrahima Konate has also collected four yellow cards this term but is set to miss out on Sunday through injury. The Frenchman is yet to return to training and will also be a doubt against United.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is also in danger of a ban if he is cautioned in each of the next two matches. The almost(out-of-contract star currently sits on three yellow cards.

If Liverpool's at-risk stars avoid picking up their fifth booking by the time the final whistle is blown against Ruben Amorim's men next week, they will then be free of worry until they near 10 cautions. Following the 19th match of a team's season, players are suspended for two games if they hit that mark.

Reds boss Arne Slot is without midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai against the Irons due to suspension following his fifth yellow card of the season. Conor Bradley is to miss the match due to injury in addition to Konate.

Slot said: “They will not be back for West Ham United, but then there is a week in between (before the game against Manchester United) so let’s see how close they are then.

"It’s difficult for me to tell you at this moment because they don’t train with the group yet, but hopefully in the upcoming days they come closer to that situation. And then again, Ibou has been out then for five or six weeks maybe, Conor just as long I think, the same amount.

“And also for them, they are in competition with players that are completely fit and doing really well, so I have to make the right judgement the moment they are back with the team."