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 Palace’s game at Leeds – both originally scheduled for 14:00 GMT on Sunday, 21 December – will now be played at 20:00 on 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 its original date of 16 December because that would have meant Palace, who are also competing in the Conference League in Europe, playing three times in five days.
They 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.
The Selhurst Park club had their request to play the European tie a day earlier rejected by Uefa. It is understood European football’s governing body turned down the request on the grounds moving it would jeopardise the integrity of the competition.
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 they would provide additional coaches at a subsidised price of £10 for the trip to Merseyside on 20 December.
