3 Liverpool players at risk of Champions League ban as Arne Slot faces headache

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Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones are one yellow card away from missing Liverpool's Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain

Arne Slot has some big selection decisions ahead(Image: Getty Images)

Three Liverpool players are in danger of receiving a Champions League ban as the Reds look to edge closer to the semifinals on Wednesday.

Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch both collected bookings during the round of 16 encounter against Galatasaray last month, joining Curtis Jones in having amassed two yellow cards in the competition this season. As a result, the trio would face suspension from a potential quarterfinal second leg should any of them receive a caution when Liverpool takes on Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Conor Bradley also carries two bookings in the Champions League but has been sidelined for the remainder of the season following a knee injury sustained in early January.

Tournament regulations state that any player who accumulates three yellow cards — or any subsequent odd number of bookings — from the league stage onwards will be suspended for the following fixture.

A clean slate is only granted upon completion of the quarterfinals, at which point all yellow card tallies are wiped.

PSG also has two players sitting on two yellow cards, with both Nuno Mendes and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia now just one booking away from missing the second leg at Anfield next Tuesday.

Virgil van Dijk is on the verge of getting a ban(Image: Getty Images)

The Champions League is Liverpool's last chance to win silverware this season following the team's 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup at the weekend.

The Reds are out of the Premier League title race and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.

They either need to win the Champions League or finish in the top five of the Premier League to secure their spot in European soccer's premier competition next term.

Arne Slot's players are fifth in the Premier League table, but only a point ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea. There are just seven points separating Liverpool and 13th-placed Bournemouth.

Floria Wirtz told reporters on Tuesday: "Of course, we wanted to have a better season up to now.

We had some goals this season — the team won the Premier League last season, and it was, for sure, the aim for this season as well.

"We are still in the Champions League, so there's still something to play for. [There is] also qualification for the Champions League next season, so we still have goals we want to achieve.

"We wanted it to be better, but there's still something to play for."