GW30 Fixtures in more detail - Is it a BGW for sure?
The reason I am posting this is because just recently Barcelona played a catch-up league matchup at the same time as Real Madrid played their UCL matchup, meaning that there is a possibility that some EPL teams will have to do the same. This can very well mean that some of the GW30 fixtures will only get shifted by a couple of days, meaning that it will be GW30 for sure
| Fixture | Team(s) in FA Cup | European and Other Involvement | GW30 Match Possibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich vs Man City | Both Eliminated | Doesn't Matter | GW30 Matchday |
| Aston Villa vs Spurs | Both Eliminated | Doesn't Matter | GW30 Matchday |
| Bournemouth vs Swansea | Both Eliminated | Doesn't Matter | GW30 Matchday |
| Man United vs Crystal Palace | Crystal Palace | Man United EL surrounding | BGW CONFIRMED |
| Stoke vs Southampton | Both Eliminated | Doesn't Matter | GW30 Matchday |
| Sunderland vs Everton | Everton | Zero Involvement | POSTPONNED, Likely BGW |
| West Ham vs Watford | Both Through | Zero Involvement | POSTPONNED, Likely BGW |
| Arsenal vs West Brom | Arsenal Through | Arsenal CL After | BGW CONFIRMED |
| Liverpool vs Chelsea | Chelsea | Liverpool EL Surrounding, Chelsea CL Before | BGW CONFIRMED |
| Leicester vs Newcastle | Both Eliminated | Doesn't Matter | GW30 Matchday |
- ~~A: Likely, For sure BGW GW30 if Man United pull through against FC Midtjyland as the Round of 16 overlaps surrounds the GW30 FA Cup Fixture. Likely DGW 34 or GW37 as United can potentially advance deep into Europe but neither team already has a DGW. ~~ BGW GW30 CONFIRMED as Man United square off with Liverpool in Europa
- B: Unconfirmed, Possible BGW 30 because Everton already have a BGW coming up, which means if they advance there has to be an overlap into an UCL date. However, Neither team is in Europe which means they can move. I would not be shocked if this fixture remains in GW30 (EDIT: I noticed a potential future conflict with Palace vs Everton GW35 should either side make it to the semifinal as my understanding would be that WHU vs WAT is already on GW34.)
- C: Unconfirmed, Possible BGW 30 as Neither team is in Europe but also are able to play midweek GW34 and GW37 if they are to avoid UCL dates
- D:
Possible, For sure BGW 30 if Arsenal beat Hullas the Replay situation for Arsenal is just as unclear as their UCL hopes against Barcelona. If the FA Cup fixture is to be played on time, Arsenal has to play their replay in the UCL slot beforehand, and if they advance against Hull, the return leg at the Nou Camp is days after GW30. This would force a later DGW.~~ BGW GW30 CONFIRMED as Arsenal are through to face Watford in the FA Cup - E:
Possible, BGW for sure if Liverpool beat Augsburg. The EL Round of 16 surrounds GW30, which would force a BGW and a later BGW. However, Liverpool already have a BGW from the League Cup Final. If Liverpool do not beat Augsburg, Chelsea's UCL Fixture is the day before which means they might be able to play the midweek of GW30. However, in GW35 Liverpool play Newcastle who are also long out of the FA Cup, which can allow this matchup to happen when there are no other UCL matches going on in GW34 or GW37BGW GW30 CONFIRMED as Liverpool are set to face United in Europa
The only team that is at risk of having to play 3 DGW's is Everton because they are both still in the FA Cup and already have BGW 28 coming up.
In addition, assuming Man United can advance in the FA Cup, GW35
| Fixture | FA Cup Involvement | Possibility of Affected Match |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa vs Southampton | Both Out | 0% |
| Bournemouth vs Chelsea | Everton vs Chelsea | 50% |
| Crystal Palace vs Everton | EVE vs CHE; REA vs CRY | 75% |
| Liverpool vs Newcastle | Both Out | 0% |
| Norwich vs Watford | HUL/ARS vs Watford | 50% |
| Man City vs Stoke | Both Out | 0% |
| Sunderland vs Arsenal | Arsenal vs Watford | 50% |
| Leicester vs Swansea | Both Out | 0% |
| Spurs vs West Brom | Both Out | 0% |
| Man United vs West Ham | Man United vs West Ham | BGW CONFIRMED |
If the EPL is to do their best at avoiding conflict with UCL/EL fixtures, The only possibility of there being conflict is going to be with Everton as they have GW27, GW30 and potentially GW35 affected. If they advance to the semifinal that is 3 GWs that are affected. This could mean that GW35 @ Palace may be a midweek fixture instead of a BGW. Their current BGW with Liverpool has a potential EL conflict which can very well shift that match further down the schedule. Every other team has 2 or less fixtures affected and with 2 open slots (GW34 and GW37) we can potentially see at least one massive DGW.
My predictions (disclaimer: just guesswork):
- LIV/EVE: GW37
- MCI/NEW: GW34
- MNU/CRY: GW34
- SUN/EVE: GW34
- WHU/WAT: GW34
- ARS/WBA: GW34
- LIV/CHE: GW34
- WHU/MNU: GW37
- ??CRY/EVE??: GW35
- ??BOU/CHE??: GW37
- ??NOR/WAT??: GW37
- SUN/ARS: GW37
EDIT: I noticed a potential conflict with Watford vs Everton in which if Sunderland vs Everton is on GW30, that would mean another fixture would also have to be on a UEFA matchday as I initially had both Watford vs Everton AND West Ham vs Watford GW34.
EDIT2: Corrected possibility as United thrashed Shrewsbury Torn
EDIT3: Realized a huge mistake on GW33 compared to GW35, surprised this was not pointed out earlier as Man United vs West Ham has just been confirmed as postponed thanks to their FA Cup match
EDIT4: Updated with confirmed BGW's and Postponements
Posted Feb 21, 2016, 8:38 PM UTC · edited