Moises Caicedo can't stay out of the referee's book. And it's becoming a real problem for Chelsea.

For the third straight season, Caicedo is fighting to avoid a two-game suspension for accumulating 10 yellow cards before his team's 32nd Premier League match, The Athletic reports. The Ecuadorian midfielder has picked up a remarkable 30 yellow cards in just 95 league appearances since joining Chelsea - that's a booking every three games.

Let me put that in perspective: Caicedo gets shown yellow more often than some teams get corners.

The 24-year-old is one of the most talented defensive midfielders in the Premier League. His ability to break up play, win tackles, and shield the back four is a huge reason Chelsea paid Brighton a British record fee for a midfielder. But his aggressive style comes with a price - and that price is measured in yellow cards.

Here's the thing: Caicedo plays on the edge. That's what makes him effective. He's not out there to make friends or avoid contact. He's there to win the ball back and start attacks. That kind of intensity is exactly what Chelsea needs in the middle of the park.

But three years in a row of flirting with suspension? That's a pattern. And patterns become problems when they cost your team points.

Imagine you're Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. You've got a crucial stretch of games coming up - maybe a Champions League knockout tie, maybe a top-four battle - and you're sweating whether your best defensive midfielder is going to pick up one more soft yellow and miss two matches.

That's not a position any manager wants to be in.