As the Premier League moves into gameweek 22, discipline is becoming a problem across the league. Under current rules, any player who picks up 10 yellow cards by the time their club’s completed 32 league games will be hit with a two-match suspension.
That makes every caution critical for clubs fighting for points, momentum or survival – and it’s also becoming a key consideration for those following Premier League betting markets tied to team news and player availability
Several players are in the spotlight because they’re close to that threshold. Brighton’s Lewis Dunk leads the pack with eight yellows, while Kyle Walker (Burnley), Cristian Romero (Tottenham) and Tim Iroegbunam (Everton) all sit on seven. They’re entering a stretch where one mistimed challenge could keep them out of vital fixtures.
With the season not even into its final third, there’s a long way to go. For some players, the margin’s already slim.
Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
Lewis Dunk is currently the player under the most pressure. Brighton’s captain has eight bookings, leaving him just two away from a two-match suspension.
His most recent yellow came against Manchester City. The others came against West Ham (home and away), Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolves, Chelsea and Bournemouth. Four of those yellows were shown in consecutive games, from gameweek 16 to 19.
If Dunk picks up a yellow in either of the next two weeks, he’d trigger a suspension that rules him out of matches against Everton (level with Brighton on 29 points) and rivals Crystal Palace (just a point behind on 28). Both games could directly impact Brighton’s position in the table.
Kyle Walker (Burnley)
Kyle Walker is also approaching dangerous territory with seven bookings as the league heads into gameweek 22. His most recent yellow came against Brighton in gameweek 20. He’s already been booked twice against Newcastle (home and away), as well as in matches against Chelsea, West Ham, Manchester City and Manchester United.
The risk now is the timing. If Walker picks up a yellow in the next few matches, he’d miss a run of fixtures that could have a major impact on his side’s season – including a crucial game against relegation rivals West Ham.
For a team locked in a tight battle near the bottom of the table, that kind of absence could influence results – and even shift Premier League relegation odds as the season enters a decisive phase.
Tim Iroegbunam (Everton)
Tim Iroegbunam is another player nearing suspension as the Premier League reaches gameweek 22. The midfielder has accumulated seven yellow cards, with his most recent one coming in the game against Wolves. Earlier in the season, he’s also been shown yellows against Burnley, Bournemouth, Fulham, Aston Villa, Brighton and Leeds.
The concern for his club is the potential impact of a suspension at the wrong time. If Iroegbunam is shown a yellow in the coming weeks, he could miss fixtures against Fulham, Bournemouth, Manchester United and Newcastle – matches where control in midfield is vital.
Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
The Tottenham centre-back has seven yellow cards to his name. His most recent disciplinary action came against Liverpool, where Romero was shown two yellows and sent off.
He was booked in four consecutive matches against Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle and Brentford, as well as Leeds and Brighton earlier in the campaign.
The concern for Tottenham is how a future suspension could fall in the fixture calendar. Depending on when Romero picks up his next three yellows, he could potentially miss matches against Manchester United, Newcastle, or even the North London derby.
This is a submitted article written by E.M Ward.
