In response to mounting fixture pressures, the Premier League has approved schedule changes for two clubs ahead of a major cup quarter-final. Arsenal and Crystal Palace, set to face each other in the Carabao Cup on December 23rd, will now play their respective league matches a day earlier than originally planned.
Both teams had initially been scheduled for league action on Sunday, December 21st. Under the revised calendar, Arsenal’s away match against Everton and Crystal Palace’s trip to Leeds United will instead kick off on Saturday, December 20th.
The adjustment aims to provide additional recovery time for players, particularly for Crystal Palace, who are also engaged in European competition. The club faces a tight turnaround, with a Conference League fixture on Thursday, December 18th, preceding the league encounter at Leeds.
League officials emphasized that player welfare was the central consideration for the rescheduling. The decision highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing domestic and European commitments within an increasingly crowded football calendar. The Premier League acknowledged the cooperation of Leeds United and Everton in facilitating the changes.
The Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium remains scheduled for Tuesday, December 23rd. The original date for the cup tie would have created an especially demanding sequence of three matches in five days for Palace, a scenario the schedule change seeks to avoid.