Early 2024/25 fixture list shows how UEFA have forced seismic change for Premier League and EFL

Earlier this month, Pep Guardiola described the current fixture schedule as the "worst it’s ever been" as they make a charge in three competitions – but things could be about to get even more relentless.

It has emerged that Premier League clubs have already received key dates for next season, with the 2024/25 season running from Saturday, August 17 to Sunday, May 25.

For starters, those who qualify for Europe face the prospect of an intense fixture pile-up in September as the opening round of the 2023/24 Champions League group stage will clash with Carabao Cup third round fixtures.

That means some top clubs are facing the prospect of three midweek fixture clashes.

As we all know, there will be eight Champions League games in the new format rather than the current six group matches, which will increase the already-packed workload.

And on top of that, there are two Champions League match rounds in the last fortnight of January, which will be when FA Cup third and fourth games will be played.

This busy fixture list involving teams in Europe may be the reason behind the controversial decision to scrap FA Cup replays.

English football's governing body announced earlier this month that FA Cup replays are set to be binned from the first round onwards from the 2024/25 campaign.

In addition to that change, FA Cup games will now be played on the weekends, while the final itself will be held on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season and will not clash with league matches.

A report from the Mirror suggests Football Association chiefs felt like they were forced to make the change.

It appears the fixture pile-up will be felt most around the festive period. The Carabao Cup quarter-final will likely be played in the midweek of December 18, which clashes with the Europa Conference League match day six.

And in addition to the increased workload, there will no reduced schedule in January to allow players to rest; something that was afforded during the current 2023/24 campaign.