Newcastle United handed triple boost because of Premier League rule ahead of Liverpool clash

Newcastle United trio Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Jamaal Lascelles have avoided a one-match ban ahead of the trip to Liverpool on New Year's Day.

Joelinton, Longstaff and Lascelles were just one yellow card away from an automatic suspension having received four cautions this season. Premier League rules state that any player who is booked five times in their side's opening 19 matches must serve a one-match ban.

Fortunately, both Joelinton and Longstaff avoided yellow cards during the Boxing Day defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, while Lascelles missed the game through injury. Liverpool duo Darwin Nunez and Wataru Endo also stayed out of the referee's book during their 2-0 win at Burnley, making them available for the meeting at Anfield.

The threshold now rises to 10 bookings in 32 matches, which would result in a two-match suspension.

Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes are on seven bookings each in the Premier League, meaning they must pick up less than three cautions in Newcastle's next 13 league matches or else serve a second ban of the campaign.

The pair, alongside Kieran Trippier, hit the five yellow card threshold earlier in the season, forcing them to miss games against West Ham United, AFC Bournemouth and Fulham, respectively.

Behind Trippier, who remains on five cautions, is Fabian Schar on three and Dan Burn on two. Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Matt Targett, Lewis Hall, Matt Ritchie, Miguel Almiron, Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson all have one Premier League booking each.