Arsenal and Palace games moved to ease congestion

The Premier League has agreed to move games involving Arsenal and Crystal Palace in December to ease fixture congestion.

Arsenal's trip to Everton and Crystal Palace's game at Leeds, both originally scheduled for 14:00 GMT on Sunday, 21 December, will now be played at 20:00 the day before, Saturday, 20 December.

The move means the two sides will have an extra day to prepare for their EFL Cup quarter-final on 23 December.

The cup game was moved by the EFL from the original date of 16 December because that scenario would have seen Palace, who are also competing in the Conference League in Europe, play three times in five days.

Palace will still have to play two games in the space of three days, with their Conference League tie against Finnish side KuPS scheduled for Thursday, 18 December.

Arsenal say the possibility of playing the EFL Cup tie on Christmas Eve was rejected because of the impact it would have on fans and club staff.

The Gunners added that they will provide additional coaches at a subsidised price of £10 for the trip to Merseyside on 20 December.