Crystal Palace face a punishing run of four matches in just eight days after their Carabao Cup quarter-final draw against Arsenal created one of the most congested fixture schedules of the season.
Oliver Glasner’s side earned their place in the last eight with a stunning 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night, but their reward is a demanding trip to the Emirates Stadium in mid-December — in the middle of a relentless spell of domestic and European commitments.
Palace are due to host Manchester City in the Premier League on December 14 before facing Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, most likely on December 16.
They then play KuPS at Selhurst Park in the UEFA Conference League on 18 December and travel to Leeds United for another Premier League clash on 21 December.
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The EFL is currently in discussions with stakeholders and clubs about how to accommodate the tie, but with no other free midweek slots available before Christmas, the fixture pile-up appears unavoidable.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will benefit from an additional day’s rest, as their league game against Wolves is scheduled for 13 December.
Palace’s calendar has already been stretched by their involvement in European competition, leaving Glasner’s squad facing the prospect of back-to-back midweek games until the new year.
Crystal Palace face a punishing run of four matches in just eight days after their Carabao Cup quarter-final draw against Arsenal created one of the most congested fixture schedules of the season
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There are Premier League fixtures scheduled every midweek until January 6, followed by the first legs of the EFL Cup semi-finals in the week beginning 13 January.
The second legs are set for the week commencing February 2, with Champions League knockout ties also taking place during the same period.
The overlap has made scheduling even more complicated, particularly with Arsenal participating in the Champions League, meaning their midweeks in January are already occupied.
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Crystal Palace ran riot against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night | PAThe Premier League is highly unlikely to move two fixtures to accommodate the EFL Cup match on a weekend, meaning Palace could be forced to navigate an intense period with minimal recovery time.
That situation highlights the growing pressure on clubs balancing multiple competitions — especially those not accustomed to European football.
Glasner has already been rotating his squad heavily to cope with the demands of competing on several fronts.
The Austrian coach will now be tasked with managing fitness levels carefully as Palace look to maintain their strong domestic form while progressing in both cup competitions.
Fixture congestion is nothing new in English football, but the situation facing Palace recalls several recent examples of teams stretched to the limit.
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| REUTERSIn 2019, Liverpool famously fielded two separate squads in different competitions within 24 hours — a youthful side losing 5-0 to Aston Villa in the EFL Cup before the senior team beat Monterrey 2-1 at the Club World Cup in Qatar.
A year later, Tottenham Hotspur found themselves in a similar position, scheduled to play Leyton Orient in the EFL Cup and Shkendija in a Europa League qualifier just two days apart.
Spurs were eventually handed a walkover in the cup tie after several Orient players tested positive for Covid-19, but the incident underlined how easily fixture chaos can arise.
For Palace, no such reprieve is expected. Their packed December calendar — capped by high-stakes matches against Arsenal, Manchester City and Leeds — will test the depth of Glasner’s squad like never before.