Crystal Palace are set for a hectic December as they prepare to play four matches in just eight days following their qualification for the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
The congested schedule comes after Palace’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool on Wednesday, which booked them a last-eight tie against Arsenal in the week beginning 15 December.
Tight schedule for Glasner’s men
Oliver Glasner’s side are due to host Manchester City in the Premier League on 14 December, play KuPS at home in the Conference League on 18 December, and travel to Leeds on 21 December. The EFL Cup quarter-final is expected to be played on 16 December, leaving little time for rest or recovery between fixtures.
The EFL is reportedly in talks with clubs and broadcasters, but there are no available midweek slots to ease the congestion. Arsenal, meanwhile, will enjoy an extra day of rest as their Premier League clash against Wolves is scheduled for 13 December.
No relief until the new year
Palace’s calendar remains packed, with Premier League and Conference League fixtures filling every midweek slot until Christmas. The busy run continues into January, which features a full midweek Premier League round and the EFL Cup semi-final first legs during the week of 13 January.
The second legs of the semi-finals are planned for early February, coinciding with Champions League knockout matches, making fixture management even tougher.
Scheduling headaches not new
Fixture congestion has been an ongoing issue in English football. In 2019, Liverpool had to field two separate squads for the EFL Cup and Club World Cup within 24 hours. Similarly, Tottenham faced a scheduling clash in 2020 but were handed an EFL Cup walkover after Covid-19 forced Leyton Orient’s match to be cancelled.
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