Champions League draw sparks Premier League fixture chaos for four teams involved
Premier League ‘faces fixture chaos with NO remaining slots’ to place postponed games between Man City vs Tottenham or Chelsea vs Liverpool after the sides are ‘placed in opposite weeks of the Champions League schedule’
- The Champions League schedule has raised fixture concerns for English sides
- Manchester City vs Tottenham and Chelsea vs Liverpool were both postponed
- Sides in those two games will play opposite weeks in the Champions League
- It means there are currently no remaining slots to place either of the matches
- Slots could still open up depending on progression in cup competitions
- All four sides could still avoid each other in Europe until the semi-final stage
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The Champions League draw has reportedly created a fixture headache for all four Premier League sides involved in the competition.
Manchester City‘s clash with Tottenham and Liverpool‘s trip to Chelsea were both scheduled to take place in September, only to be postponed due to the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
All four sides found out who they will play in the last-16 of the Champions League in February, though as reported by ESPN, the scheduling of the games has left no vacant slot until the end of the season for either of the two Premier League games to be played.
The Champions League draw has sparked fixture chaos in the Premier League with no current remaining slots to fill in games involving the four sides involved in both competitions
Liverpool have have been handed the most difficult draw out of the four sides in Europe, as they will face their Champions League final conquerors Real Madrid in the next round.
Tottenham meanwhile have been drawn against Serie A champions AC Milan.
UEFA’s scheduling for the games has not done the Premier League any favours with Liverpool hosting Real Madrid at Anfield on February 21, before playing the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 15.
Liverpool and Chelsea’s game was postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the two sides are set to play in opposite weeks in the Champions League last-16 schedule
There is also currently no slot free for Manchester City’s clash with Tottenham in the league
Instead of having Tottenham play their game in the same week as the Reds, they will instead travel to Milan on February 14 and host the Italian side on March 8.
It is the same case for both Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of their game that needs to be rearranged.
Chelsea play Borussia Dortmund on February 15 and March 7, while Pep Guardiola’s side face RB Leipzig on February 22 and March 14.
Dates could open up later in the season depending on whether sides are able to progress through until the latter stages of the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup or not.
Slots could open up later in the season though if sides progress far in the Champions League, FA Cup (pictured) or Carabao Cup, then potential dates for the two games could close up
However, spaces later in the season could close up, as all four sides – while unlikely – could avoid each other until the semi-finals of the Champions League and go long in the domestic cups.
The issue has arisen with the World Cup being played over the winter rather than it’s summer spot with less time to fit in games this season – even if the season started earlier than normal and is due to finish on May 28 compared to May 22 last campaign.
Manchester United are also facing the same kind of fixture chaos as they will have to face Barcelona in a two-legged play-off tie in the Europa League.
Sides involved in Europe are facing the prospect of playing every weekend and every mid-week slot until the end of the season.
