Premier League clubs involved in European competition risk extremely congested schedules in the New Year if they fail to finish in the top eight of their group phases, with some potentially facing nine matches in a 29-day stretch.
In the Champions League, Arsenal top their group after five matches, while Chelsea were seventh before Tuesday’s defeat at Atalanta. If both finish in the top eight they would automatically progress to the knockout stage and play just three Champions League games between now and March, giving each squad around two weeks without European midweeks.
Manchester City, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are the other English sides in the Champions League and were positioned outside the top eight going into the sixth round of fixtures. All three of those clubs were inside the top 24, which would require them to contest two-legged knockout play-offs in February to reach the next stage.
The schedule in the Europa League and Conference League follows the same pattern (despite the Conference League having two fewer group matches). Aston Villa sit third in their Europa League group, while Nottingham Forest are 16th and currently in line for a play-off double-header. Crystal Palace are 18th in their Conference League group and in similar danger of extra fixtures.
The first legs of the play-off knockouts are due midweek on February 17-19, with return legs on February 24-26. Those dates come at a busy time for English clubs: the FA Cup fifth round is scheduled in the week of the first play-off legs and Premier League matches are also programmed across those weekends.
The Champions League round of 16 first legs are due March 10-12, with second legs on March 17-19. Clubs that finish outside the top eight would therefore play five Champions League matches between now and March, whereas those who secure automatic top-eight qualification would play only three.
Manchester City, Newcastle, Arsenal and Chelsea also remain in the Carabao Cup. If they all progress beyond the quarter-finals (they do not face each other at that stage), the second leg of the semi-finals would fall in the week commencing February 2. The extra Champions League play-off games, combined with Premier League and Carabao Cup commitments, mean clubs involved in play-offs could have nine fixtures across a 29-day period; even teams already eliminated from the League Cup may face eight matches in that window.
Arsenal’s potential fixtures
– January 31 – Leeds (a), Premier League
– Week commencing February 2 – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg*
– February 7 – Sunderland (h), Premier League
– February 11 – Brentford (a), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 17 or 18 – Play-off first leg, Champions League*
– February 21 – Tottenham Hotspur (a), Premier League
– February 24 or 25 – Play-off second leg, Champions League*
– February 28 – Chelsea (h), Premier League
Chelsea’s potential fixtures
– January 31 – West Ham (h), Premier League
– Week commencing February 2 – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg*
– February 7 – Wolves (a), Premier League
– February 11 – Leeds United (h), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 17 or 18 – Play-off first leg, Champions League*
– February 21 – Burnley (h), Premier League
– February 24 or 25 – Play-off second leg, Champions League*
– February 28 – Arsenal (a), Premier League
Man City’s potential fixtures
– February 1 – Tottenham (a), Premier League
– Week commencing February 2 – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg*
– February 7 – Liverpool (a), Premier League
– February 11 – Fulham (h), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 17 or 18 – Play-off first leg, Champions League*
– February 21 – Newcastle (h), Premier League
– February 24 or 25 – Play-off second leg, Champions League*
– February 28 – Leeds (a), Premier League
Liverpool’s potential fixtures
– January 31 – Newcastle (h), Premier League
– February 7 – Man City (h), Premier League
– February 11 – Sunderland (a), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 17 or 18 – Play-off first leg, Champions League*
– February 21 – Nottingham Forest (a), Premier League
– February 24 or 25 – Play-off second leg, Champions League*
– February 28 – West Ham (h), Premier League
Newcastle’s potential fixtures
– January 31 – Liverpool (a), Premier League
– Week commencing February 2 – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg*
– February 7 – Brentford (h), Premier League
– February 11 – Tottenham (a), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 17 or 18 – Play-off first leg, Champions League*
– February 21 – Man City (a), Premier League
– February 24 or 25 – Play-off second leg, Champions League*
– February 28 – Everton (h), Premier League
Tottenham’s potential fixtures
– February 1 – Man City (h), Premier League
– February 7 – Man Utd (a), Premier League
– February 11 – Newcastle (h), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 17 or 18 – Play-off first leg, Champions League*
– February 21 – Arsenal (h), Premier League
– February 24 or 25 – Play-off second leg, Champions League*
– February 28 – Fulham (a), Premier League
Aston Villa’s potential fixtures
– February 1 – Brentford (h), Premier League
– February 7 – Bournemouth (a), Premier League
– February 11 – Brighton (h), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 19 – Play-off first leg, Europa League*
– February 21 – Leeds United (h), Premier League
– February 26 – Play-off second leg, Europa League*
– February 28 – Wolves (a), Premier League
Nottingham Forest’s potential fixtures
– February 1 – Crystal Palace (h), Premier League
– February 7 – Leeds United (h), Premier League
– February 11 – Wolverhampton (h), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 19 – Play-off first leg, Europa League*
– February 21 – Liverpool (h), Premier League
– February 26 – Play-off second leg, Europa League*
– February 28 – Brighton & Hove Albion (a), Premier League
Crystal Palace’s potential fixtures
– February 1 – Nottm Forest (a), Premier League
– February 7 – Brighton (a), Premier League
– February 11 – Burnley (h), Premier League
– Weekend of February 14 – FA Cup fourth round*
– February 19 – Play-off first leg, Conference League*
– February 21 – Wolverhampton (h), Premier League
– February 26 – Play-off second leg, Conference League*
– February 28 – Manchester United (a), Premier League
*Fixtures marked with an asterisk apply only if teams finish ninth to 24th in their European league phase and must contest the knock-out play-offs, or if they progress to the FA Cup fourth round or the Carabao Cup semi-finals.