Why Cole Palmer won't be suspended against Leeds but Ethan Ampadu could be
Leeds United could face Chelsea without one of their most important players when the two sides meet later this month.
Interestingly, Leeds United's captain Ethan Ampadu and Chelsea's Cole Palmer are both listed as having four yellow cards in the Premier League this season. However, there is a key difference in how those bookings are treated under the competition's disciplinary rules.
While Ampadu is one caution away from a suspension, Palmer is not facing the same punishment.
Why Cole Palmer won't be banned against Leeds United
As per the Yorkshire Evening Post, Palmer has four yellow cards recorded this season, but two of those came during Chelsea's 2-0 defeat against Tottenham in October.
The midfielder was sent off after receiving two cautions in the same match. He subsequently served his one-match suspension in Chelsea's Carabao Cup fixture against Liverpool.
However, those two bookings do not count towards his accumulated yellow-card total for the Premier League's suspension threshold. That means Palmer currently has just two qualifying bookings and is not at risk of a ban through accumulation.
Premier League rules state that players receive a one-match suspension if they collect five yellow cards before the conclusion of their club's first 19 league matches.
Palmer would therefore need to collect three more qualifying bookings before Chelsea reach that point to trigger a suspension.
Ethan Ampadu could miss Leeds' trip to Stamford Bridge
Although similar, the situation is still very different for Ampadu.
The Leeds United skipper has collected four separate Premier League yellow cards this season, meaning another caution would trigger an automatic one-match suspension.
He picked up his fourth booking during the 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth, after being cautioned for a foul on Evanilson.
Leeds United face Tottenham before their trip to Stamford Bridge, giving Ampadu one more chance to avoid a suspension. If he is booked at Elland Road on November 7, he will be forced to miss the Chelsea fixture on November 21.
That would be a significant blow for Daniel Farke because Ampadu has been crucial for the Whites this season, featuring in every available minute of their Premier League campaign.
Losing him against Chelsea would leave Farke with a difficult decision over who should replace him.
It is a situation Chelsea will certainly be keeping an eye on. Palmer looks set to be available, but the Whites could be without their captain before the two sides meet.
