Champions League suspension rules clarified as one Liverpool star faces potential ban

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones heads into tonight’s Champions League clash with Qarabag walking a disciplinary tightrope. Should the 24-year-old feature and receive a yellow card, he would be hit with a one-match suspension.

The Reds need all three points at Anfield to secure automatic qualification for the round of 16, and Arne Slot will be eager not only for victory but for a convincing display as pressure continues to build following a slow start to 2026.

Liverpool have been one of the competition’s most well-behaved sides so far, with just eight yellow cards across the tournament — a figure bettered by only three of the other 35 teams involved, according to WhoScored.

How Champions League suspensions work
UEFA’s regulations, outlined in Article 63, state that any player or team official who accumulates three yellow cards before the quarter-final stage receives a one-match ban. Disciplinary records are then wiped clean at the quarter-finals. Additional suspensions can also be enforced for any further odd-numbered bookings beyond that point — for example, a fifth yellow before the quarter-finals would result in another one-game suspension.

Currently, Jones and Conor Bradley are the only Liverpool players with multiple yellow cards, though Bradley’s situation is no longer relevant due to a season-ending injury.

A selection headache for Slot
That leaves Jones as the sole Liverpool player at immediate risk of suspension, presenting Slot with a tricky decision. Does he start the midfielder and risk losing him for the first knockout match, or consider the fact that Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are also just one booking away from danger?

If Liverpool had already secured a top-eight finish — as they had at this stage last season — rotation would be an easier option. However, with qualification still hanging in the balance and the threat of a February play-off looming, Slot is expected to field a strong XI from the start. The hope will be to build a comfortable lead early, allowing for more cautious substitutions around the hour mark.

Once the league phase concludes tonight, Liverpool will gain clarity on their potential path to the final. Ideally, they’ll head into the knockout rounds without the looming risk of losing a key player through suspension.