In the first of two articles this evening, we’re looking at the impact of the FA Cup on the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) schedule.
After full-time in the remaining FA Cup fifth-round ties tonight, the complete Blank Gameweek 29 picture will be known. We’ll have a summary of that situation closer to 23:00 GMT.
Before then, though, we’re reacting to the FA Cup quarter-final draw.
The semi-finals of that cup competition clash with Gameweek 34, so there’ll be as many as four Premier League postponements.
FA CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
- Wolves/Brighton v Coventry
- Nottm Forest/Man Utd v Liverpool/Southampton
- Chelsea/Leeds v Leicester
- Man City v Newcastle
GAMEWEEK 34 OVERVIEW
GW34 Premier League fixture | Status | A postponement will happen if the following happens: |
Aston Villa v Bournemouth | On | |
Crystal Palace v West Ham | On | |
Luton v Brentford | On | |
Sheff Utd v Burnley | On | |
Brighton v Chelsea | Possible postponement | Only one of these things needs to happen:
If Chelsea beat Leeds in the FA Cup fifth round and then Leicester in the quarter-finals If Brighton beat Wolves in the FA Cup fifth round and then Coventry in the quarter-finals |
Everton v Nottm Forest | Possible postponement | If Nottm Forest beat Man Utd in the FA Cup fifth round and then Liverpool/Southampton in the quarter-finals |
Fulham v Liverpool | Possible postponement | If Liverpool beat Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round and then Nottm Forest/Man Utd in the quarter-finals |
Man Utd v Newcastle | Possible postponement | Only one of these things needs to happen:
If Man Utd beat Nottm Forest in the FA Cup fifth round and then Liverpool/Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals If Newcastle beat Man City in the FA Cup quarter-finals |
Spurs v Man City | Possible postponement | If Man City beat Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals |
Wolves v Arsenal | Possible postponement | If Wolves beat Brighton in the FA Cup fifth round and then Coventry in the quarter-finals |
We’ll update the above table once Wednesday’s results are in.
WHY A POSTPONEMENT DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN A BLANK
Unlike in Gameweek 29, a postponement in Gameweek 34 doesn’t necessarily mean a blank.
This Gameweek clashes with the FA Cup semi-finals but the following midweek is free, meaning the affected matches could simply move there.
That free midweek could also house earlier postponements from Gameweeks 26/29.
So, Gameweek 34 could become a blank for a small number of clubs, a double for a handful of others and a single Gameweek for the remainder.
WHEN WILL WE KNOW THE FULL GAMEWEEK 34 PICTURE?
The March international break is the next key juncture for Fantasy managers.
After Gameweek 29, we’ll know which of the Gameweek 34 matches will need to be rearranged.
During the break itself, we’ll also likely find out which teams will ‘double’ when the new fixture dates are announced.
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