Liverpool star could sidestep FA ban as Arne Slot handed bittersweet boost

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Dominik Szoboszlai was forced off with an ankle injury in Liverpool's win over Brighton but once again managed to avoid a suspensionDominik Szoboszlai has been one of Liverpool’s star players during a difficult first half of the season for the defending Premier League champions. Already utilised in four different positions no less, in midfield and defence, he has returned five goals and five assists from 23 appearances during the campaign to date.His form and growing importance has not gone unnoticed as a result with the Reds’ overall struggles only enhancing just how vital a player the 25-year-old is to Arne Slot.Consequently, supporters have perhaps been left slightly anxious while watching Szoboszlai in recent weeks, well-aware that Liverpool have found themselves on the cusp of having to make do without the in-form Hungarian.READ MORE: Curtis Jones shares Mohamed Salah's message to Liverpool squad and shuts down criticsREAD MORE: What Mohamed Salah said in mixed zone after Liverpool recall as Arne Slot 'drops' another playerFor more than a month, the midfielder has been walking a disciplinary tight-rope in the Premier League, after picking up his fourth booking of the season in last month’s defeat to Manchester City.His next yellow card in the English top flight, if issued before the Reds’ 20th league game of the season against Fulham on January 4, will earn him a one-game suspension.Szoboszlai has navigated Liverpool’s previous five Premier League matches without finding himself on the wrong end of the officials to at least stave off such a threat.But with the amnesty now slowly coming into sight, the Reds face the prospect of having to do without the 25-year-old anyway - and for potentially longer than just one match.He was forced off with an ankle injury in the 83rd minute in Liverpool’s win over Brighton, despite initially trying to play on, with Slot confirming the setback when speaking after the final whistle.“Dom, it was his ankle,” the Dutchman revealed.

But he has unbelievable mentality so let's hope for the best.”Ryan Gravenberch missed three games with his own ankle issue earlier in the season, while Wataru Endo has already missed two games with a similar injury.It remains to be seen if Szoboszlai will find himself sidelined after his own injury blow. But having so far successfully avoided suspension, despite the looming threat, any enforced absence now would be somewhat cruelly ironic.Of course, should he be forced to sit out the Premier League’s festive period because of injury, he will at least not be issued with a ban before the amnesty comes into place in the New Year.But that would be bittersweet for Liverpool and for Szoboszlai as club and player are made to sweat after his enforced withdrawal against Brighton.Elsewhere, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Gravenberch and Milos Kerkez need to avoid picking up two yellow cards against Tottenham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United to avoid suspensions of their own.

The quartet have each been booked three times in the Premier League so far this season.With Joe Gomez also being forced off against Brighton, having suffered a hamstring injury, any suspension for Van Dijk or Konate would prove particularly unwanted with the pair currently Slot's only available senior centre-backs, with Giovanni Leoni already ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.Endo and Gravenberch would both offer makeshift alternative solutions, as would Andy Robertson, but the Japanese is still sidelined through injury while the Dutchman remains at risk of a suspension of his own.Federico Chiesa and Gomez also face disciplinary tight-ropes of their own, having been booked twice each so far this season. But with the Italian limited to a bit-part role and the England international now injured, it would be something of a surprise if either were to receive the three yellow cards required to prompt a one-game ban before the end of the calendar year.