Blues facing fixture switch due to FA Cup replay commitment
A new date for Chelsea’s high profile Barclays Premier League encounter with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge may have to be found after it was confirmed the Blues will face an FA Cup replay with Everton on the weekend of the fifth round.
There had been uncertainty over the date of the rematch between Chelsea and Everton, who drew at Goodison Park on Saturday.
It was initially suggested that the match would be played on Saturday February 19, only for a contradictory position to emerge yesterday when it appeared the match would actually be played on either the Tuesday or Wednesday of the week before.
That view was based on the erroneous belief that FA Cup matches would take precedence over Premier League matches that have also been arranged for that week.
Although virtually none of the fourth-round ties could have been played next week due to international calls, that is the designated replay week and Premier League fixtures take place at any point outside those times.
It means the first available opportunity for Chelsea to take on Everton for the right to meet Reading in round five will be on either February 19 or 20.
If Chelsea were to prevail, their planned fixture with United at Stamford Bridge on March 1 would have to be postponed.
That raises the possibility of the Premier League title rivals facing each other twice in a matter of days in May, a situation which may suit United, who could already have the Championship wrapped up by then.
