Antonio Conte and his Tottenham side have it all to do if they are to seal a place in the top four come the end of the 2021/22 Premier League season. Spurs missed a huge opportunity on Saturday following their 3-2 defeat at Manchester United but the results of others could still leave the door open for them.
However, Spurs taking advantage is going to come down to Conte's men finally fixing their form that has seen them blow the chance to take advantage in the race for a Champions League spot. The Lilywhites still have two games in hand on United, West Ham and Wolves above them, with Arsenal in fourth currently playing one game less than Tottenham.
The fact Spurs have played 27 games this season means a number of Premier League players are currently walking the suspension tightrope ahead of the 32nd league fixture. Rules state that players who accumulate 10 yellow cards in Premier League matches, up to and including their team's 32nd fixture, will serve a two-match suspension in the competition.
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So which Tottenham players could possibly be hit by a two-match ban at the business end of the season? Well, Conte could potentially have to do without two of his squad if they manage to collect ten bookings in total between now and the full-time whistle in Spurs' home match against Brighton & Hove Albion next month.
Cristian Romero and Oliver Skipp are the two players in question, with the former on seven yellows already and the latter on six. However, it's highly unlikely that the England Under-21 player will have to serve a suspension as it's currently not clear when he will be back from his ongoing groin injury.
Romero, on the other hand, is the player most at risk as he is three bookings away from a two-match ban. The 23-year-old did pick up 15 booking for Atalanta last term and has been shown a yellow card in four of his nine games in all competitions since his return from injury.
Davinson Sanchez is the next Spurs player with the most bookings in the league after Romero and Skipp with four so far, thus meaning it is now impossible to receive a two-game ban as the Lilywhites only have five fixtures left to play before they have played 32. Ben Davies, Harry Kane, Emerson Royal, Sergio Reguilon and Lucas Moura then all follow on three.
Premier League rules also state that a total of 15 yellow cards in the duration of the season will result in a three-match ban. Romero can in fact still reach that lofty number but he would have to be cautioned eight times in Spurs' final 11 games to do so.
