David Luiz

Sergio Aguero suspended for violent conduct again, this time for even longer

Published Dec. 9, 2016 1:05 p.m. ET

Ryan Rosenblatt

Sergio Aguero has been suspended four matches for his nasty tackle on David Luiz in the waning moment of Manchester City's 3-1 loss to Chelsea on Saturday.

The tackle set off a scrum between the two teams, in which Nathaniel Chalobah pushed Aguero to the ground, Cesc Fabregas appeared to slap Fernandinho and then Fernandinho grabbed Fabregas by the throat, eventually pushing the Chelsea man into the advertising boards. Aguero was shown a red card for his tackle and Fernandinho was also red carded for grabbing Fabregas by the throat.

Aguero was banned the first time around for an elbow to Winston Reid. Manchester City were fine in his absence, beating Manchester United, Bournemouth and Swansea. This time around, they'll have to deal with Leicester, Watford, Arsenal and Hull. With the way Leicester and Hull are playing, they should be fine, but Watford are difficult to deal with and Arsenal will feel like they're the favorites against an Aguero-less City.

Pep Guardiola will surely have a long talk with Aguero after this second ban. While the City manager insisted afterward that Aguero's tackle on Luiz was not intentional, it was undoubtedly dirty. City have done fine in Aguero's absence this season, but they can't make a habit of playing without their best striker. That means getting Aguero to calm down, especially since his next ban for violent conduct will bring with it a five-match suspension.

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