Alex MacQuoid
Crystal Palace’s Busy Schedule
Crystal Palace are set to play four matches in just eight days, a hectic schedule caused by their Carabao Cup quarter-final run. The Eagles secured their spot in the last eight with a 3-0 victory at Liverpool on Wednesday, setting up a clash against Arsenal in the week beginning December 15.
The fixture congestion begins with a Premier League match against Manchester City on December 14. Following that, Palace host KuPS in the Conference League on December 18, and travel to Leeds in the Premier League on December 21. The EFL Cup tie against Arsenal is most likely to be scheduled for December 16.
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Fixture Congestion and Challenges
The EFL is in discussions with stakeholders, but there are no other midweek slots available for the match. Arsenal, who will have an extra day’s rest, face Wolves in the Premier League on December 13.
Oliver Glasner’s side, which lost 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday, has a packed schedule with Premier League and Conference League commitments every midweek until Christmas. January also offers no respite, with the first legs of the EFL Cup semi-finals taking place during the week of January 13, followed by the final two rounds of the Champions League and the second legs of the EFL Cup ties in the week beginning February 2.
The fixture congestion is further complicated by Palace drawing Arsenal, who will be playing in the Champions League on those midweek evenings in January. There is little chance the Premier League would move two matches to facilitate the EFL Cup tie being played on a weekend.
Historical Precedents
In 2019, Liverpool fielded different teams in the EFL Cup and the Club World Cup within 24 hours. A young side lost 5-0 to Aston Villa before a senior team beat Monterrey 2-1 to reach the final of the Club World Cup.
In 2020, Spurs were due to play Leyton Orient in the EFL Cup and Shkendija in a Europa League qualifier within 48 hours. However, Spurs were given an EFL Cup walkover after several Orient players tested positive for Covid-19, and the game was called off.