Crystal Palace are set for an exhausting December after advancing to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Their 3-0 triumph over Liverpool on Wednesday secured a last-eight tie against Arsenal, to be held during the week starting 15 December.
The packed calendar means Palace are due to play four matches in just eight days. They will host Manchester City in the Premier League on 14 December, meet Arsenal around 16 December in the Cup, welcome KuPS for a Conference League clash on 18 December, and finish the run with a league trip to Leeds on 21 December.
Organizers from the English Football League are discussing options with clubs and broadcasters, but suitable windows are scarce. The only possible alternative would be Tuesday, 23 December—just two days after both sides’ weekend league fixtures.
Arsenal gain extra rest before quarter-final clash
Arsenal’s domestic schedule offers them a slight advantage before the meeting with Palace. Mikel Arteta’s team is set to face Wolves on 13 December, giving them an additional day of recovery compared with their opponents.
The situation leaves Oliver Glasner managing a heavy workload across three competitions. Palace already lost narrowly to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday and now faces a relentless stretch with no clear breaks.
Every midweek slot before Christmas is occupied by either Premier League or European fixtures. January offers no relief, as top-flight games continue midweek until 6 January, followed quickly by the EFL Cup semi-final first legs the following week.
No easy solution for the scheduling crisis
The congestion grows more complicated because Arsenal’s Champions League involvement in January rules out several potential midweek options. Adjusting Premier League fixtures to fit the Cup tie appears highly unlikely.
In similar past cases, clubs have faced tough compromises. In 2019, Liverpool was forced to field two separate teams within 24 hours—one in the Carabao Cup and another at the Club World Cup. A youthful lineup lost 5-0 to Aston Villa, while the senior squad beat Monterrey 2-1 the next day.
A year later, Tottenham encountered a comparable challenge when scheduled to play both Leyton Orient in the EFL Cup and Shkendija in Europe within two days. The problem resolved itself when Orient forfeited due to Covid-19 infections, handing Spurs a walkover.
Possible fixture reshuffle still under review
For now, the EFL continues talks to determine when the Arsenal–Palace tie can be played. With all remaining weeks until February already filled by domestic and European matches, creative solutions may be needed to avoid a fixture clash.
Glasner’s squad will have to balance rotation, recovery, and travel as they navigate one of the most congested stretches of the season. The coming weeks will test not only their fitness but also their ability to sustain form across multiple fronts.
