4 Liverpool players at risk of suspension for Manchester United clash if they pick up booking against West Ham

Four Liverpool players are at risk of missing their clash against Manchester United in the Premier League on January 5 if they are booked against West Ham United. These players are Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch, and Ibrahima Konate.

The Reds have been going strong in the Premier League this season as they sit atop the table with 42 points of 17 games. However, they could risk losing their key players if they are shown a yellow card in their upcoming game against West Ham United away on December 29.

The aforementioned players have all been booked four times in the Premier League so far. A fifth yellow will result in a one-match suspension, leading them to miss the clash against Manchester United at home (January 5).

However, French defender Ibrahima Konate will avoid the danger as he's set to miss the clash against West Ham owing to his injury. However, Konate will have to avoid any bookings during the clash against the Red Devils to skip the one-match ban.

Meanwhile, another key Liverpool player, Trent Alexander-Arnold is also in danger as he's been booked thrice in the league this season. The Englishman will have to avoid picking up a yellow card during the clashes against West Ham and Manchester United to avoid the ban.

The best way out is to try to establish an early and comfortable lead against West Ham so that those players in danger of being booked can be taken off. This way, Liverpool can avoid losing key players before one of their biggest home games of the season.

It is worth noting that Alexis Mac Allister was suspended for the match against Fulham (December 14) after picking up five yellows. Dominik Szoboszlai will miss the fixture against West Ham for the same reason.

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Michael Owen names Arsenal as the only team that can stop Liverpool from winning the Premier League

Mikel Arteta - Source: Getty

In a conversation with Premier League Productions, former England international Michael Owen named Arsenal the only danger to Liverpool lifting the Premier League this season. He said (via The Mirror):

"I think their only danger could be Arsenal. I don't fancy Chelsea, I think they are too young, too inexperienced. Forest are having a great season but they can't sustain that. Newcastle are too far behind, even though they are coming into good form at the moment, Bournemouth can't challenge either."

Owen continued:

"For me it's Arsenal and Arsenal only in terms of danger to them [Liverpool]. But I think they're only a danger to themselves, the way they are playing, unless they implode themselves, unless they have a Manchester City moment, it looks like they're streaking clear."

Liverpool are six points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with 42 points. Meanwhile, the Gunners stand second with 36 points off 18 games. However, the Merseysiders have a game in hand. They have lost only one game in the league this season against Nottingham Forest (1-0) at home.