The Premier League returns after the Christmas festivities, with players having to cut their family reunion to lace up their boots.
The Boxing Day action, will see several players notably absent for their clubs due to accumulated bookings.
In the Premier League, players who receive five yellow cards before the halfway point of the season (19 games), face a one-game suspension.
With the festive fixtures marking the halfway point, this rule comes into play for a number of players.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling, Aston Villa’s Matty Cash, and Sheffield United’s Jayden Bogle have all reached this threshold and will miss their respective teams’ upcoming matches.
Havertz’s suspension means he will be unavailable for Arsenal’s game against West Ham.
Similarly, Chelsea will be without Palmer and Sterling when they host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa will have to do without Cash when they visit Manchester United today, and Sheffield United will miss Bogle as they take on Manchester City.
