CRYSTAL PALACE have asked the Premier League to move their clash with Leeds after desperately seeking ways to combat a festive fixture pile-up.
The Eagles are due to face Daniel Farke’s side at Elland Road on December 21.
But Palace want the game to be brought forward by 24 hours to avoid having to play Leeds and Arsenal in the space of three days.
The south Londoners are on course to be involved in eight fixtures next month and are due to face Mikel Arteta‘s Gunners in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on December 23.
Palace are also scheduled to host Finnish side KuPS in the Conference League on December 18.
But Eagles boss Oliver Glasner has confirmed that contact has been made to adjust the date of the meeting with Leeds after Arsenal have made a similar attempt to switch their trip to Everton.
FLO’S RIDER
Wenger accuses Reds of ‘destroying midfield’ by accepting Wirtz condition
The Austrian tactician said: “We’re trying to move the Leeds game forward to Saturday [December 20]. We have two days between these games.
“We didn’t get a response until now from the Premier League. So we just have the same situation as Arsenal if their game is moved.”
Glasner also suggested that Uefa’s decision to stretch the European calendar across 10 midweeks has led to complications for Palace and their rivals.
SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN
He added: “I think I’m always talking about making mistakes as part of development.
“I think that the EFL and Premier League didn’t solve this problem before the start of the season.
“They will learn from it and I’m pretty sure that next year they will have the solution before the start of the season. So maybe they needed this experience to solve it and not rely that this won’t happen.
“We will be ready. However the fixture is. But it’s so far away. We have so many games until December 23.”
Arsenal fans have hit out at the decision to schedule their Carabao Cup game with Palace two days after their away day at Everton.
One supporter posted on social media: “Utter stupidity.”
Another said: “Get ready for both clubs to play their C teams in this match. What a joke.”
