The Premier League has moved the Arsenal and Crystal Palace fixtures forward by a day to ease December congestion. Arsenal will now face Everton at Goodison Park, and Palace will visit Leeds, both at 20:00 on Saturday, 20 December, instead of 14:00 on Sunday, 21 December.
The decision gives both sides an extra day to recover and prepare for their EFL Cup quarter-finals on 23 December. Coaches and players had raised concerns about the tight schedule during the busy winter period.
Fixture Changes to Protect Player Welfare
The EFL had initially planned the Cup game for 16 December, but that would have forced Crystal Palace—who also play in the Conference League—to compete three times in five days. To prevent that overload, the Premier League agreed to shift both clubs’ league games a day earlier.
“Player welfare is a priority for the Premier League, and we have therefore granted requests from Arsenal and Crystal Palace to move their respective fixtures,” the league said.
Even with this change, Palace still face a demanding stretch. They will play Finnish side KuPS in the Conference League on Thursday, 18 December, followed by their league match two days later and then the EFL Cup quarter-final three days after that.
Arsenal Rejects Christmas Eve Proposal
Arsenal rejected the idea of playing the EFL Cup tie on Christmas Eve, saying it would have affected fans and club staff. The club also announced subsidised £10 coach travel for supporters heading to Merseyside on 20 December.
These schedule changes help both clubs manage their packed December run and ensure fair recovery time before key fixtures.
Stay Updated for all the latest Sports News, follow Todaysmatchprediction on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
