Liverpool star at risk of suspension after Man Utd incident - could miss Newcastle United clash

Liverpool star Darwin Nunez is walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of the New Year's Day clash against Newcastle United.

In the Reds' opening 17 Premier League matches this season, Nunez has been shown four yellow cards and another before the visit of the Magpies on January 1 will result in an automatic one-match suspension.

The 24-year-old was cautioned in last Sunday's 0-0 draw against Manchester United while he also went into the referee's book against Sheffield United, Manchester City and Newcastle.

Should the Uruguay international be cautioned against Arsenal this evening then he will miss the trip to Burnley on Boxing Day. If Nunez avoids a yellow versus the Gunners but were to go into the book at Burnley then he would be absent for the Newcastle game.

As per Premier League rules, any player who picks up five bookings in the opening 19 matches of the campaign must serve a one-match ban, something that has applied to Newcastle trio Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier this term.

Nunez came off the bench to score twice against Newcastle in August as the Reds, down to 10 men after Virgil Van Dijk's first-half red card, inflicted a late defeat on Eddie Howe's side.

The former Benfica man has scored seven goals and recorded eight assists in all competitions so far this campaign.

Meanwhile, Wataru Endo has been booked three times in the Premier League. If he were to be cautioned against Arsenal and Burnley then he'd also be forced to sit out the Newcastle encounter.

Alexis Mac Allister, who is currently injured, has already served a one-match ban for being yellow-carded five times.