Three Liverpool players could be suspended for next week’s clash against Manchester United.

Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez have picked up four bookings so far this Premier League season and, should they receive another when Liverpool plays West Ham United on Sunday, they will be handed an automatic one-match ban and be forced to sit out the visit of Ruben Amorim’s side.

Suspensions have become a pressing issue for Premier League clubs in recent weeks as we approach the five-booking cut-off point. That occurs after 19 matches of the season, which for most teams is this weekend. However, Liverpool and Everton have to wait an additional round of fixtures given the Merseyside derby was postponed earlier this month.

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It means Liverpool’s 19th match will be the fixture against United next week and a fifth booking of the season in that encounter would see players miss the trip to Nottingham Forest on Jan. 14. In addition to Gakpo, Gravenberch and Nunez, Ibrahima Konate is also on four yellow cards for the season. That’s not a huge concern for Arne Slot at this stage given the Frenchman is injured, but he is nearing a return to the team.

“They [Konate and Connor Bradley] 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,” the Liverpool boss said this week.

“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.”

Elsewhere, Dominik Szobszlai picked up his fifth caution of the season against Leicester City and will miss the West Ham game as a result. Alexis Mac Allister is the only other player to reach that mark and was forced to sit out the 2-2 draw against Fulham.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is also forth keeping an eye on ahead of the 19-match cut-off. The right-back has been shown three yellows and could still be ruled out of the Forest trip to two weeks’ time should be booked against West Ham and United.

As for the Red Devils, Harry Maguire is the only suspension risk. The England international will miss the trip to Anfield if he is cautioned at home to Newcastle United on Monday.

Bruno Fernandes is banned for that game but will be back to face Liverpool. He was shown his second red card of the season in the 2-0 Boxing Day loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, but given the first against Tottenham Hotspur was rescinded, his suspension is only for one match.