Aston Villa now on punishment tightrope due to soon-to-expire Premier League rule

Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz must tread mightily carefully against Brentford this weekend as the Brazilian is just one booking away from a two-match ban.

Brandished the yellow card for the ninth time this season during the 4-1 demolition at Manchester City midweek, Luiz is now walking the suspension tightrope. Great care must be taken right up until the final whistle on Saturday otherwise Villa will be without Luiz for the trip to Arsenal and the hosting of AFC Bournemouth.

After three successive selection headaches caused by John McGinn’s straight red against Tottenham Hotspur, Unai Emery will be desperate for no more penalisation. The good news is the 32-game mark, reached after the Brentford clash, relinquishes the threat of a Luiz ban as the 10-yellow rule then expires.

Villa named a heavily rotated lineup at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, not helped by McGinn’s unavailability. Illness for Emiliano Martinez and an injury for Ollie Watkins struck, too, making it very difficult for the Villans to compete against the Premier League champions.

This weekend should be a different story, though, with McGinn’s return a boost and Watkins facing a late fitness test ahead of a possible involvement. Pau Torres, Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans had a brief rest, too, giving them renewed energy.