Manchester City and Crystal Palace will play twice in Gameweek 36, confirming the final double gameweek of the 2025-26 Premier League season, after Man City’s reported attempt to have the fixture schedule amended was rejected.
Reports emerged in the 24 hours prior to the announcement that Pep Guardiola’s side had pushed to restructure the proposed fixture changes. City’s preference was to play Bournemouth in the midweek slot following Gameweek 36, which would have handed Man City and the Cherries a double while moving the Crystal Palace fixture to the midweek after Gameweek 37. Under that arrangement, Palace would have doubled later, Bournemouth would have blanked, and Manchester City’s double would have shifted to a different week entirely.
The Premier League did not entertain it. As The Mirror’s John Cross reported, the appeal fell on deaf ears, leaving the original plan intact. City and Palace double in Gameweek 36. No side blanks. No other teams double in the run-in.
What the Gameweek 36 double means for the Premier League run-in
Crystal Palace’s double is also worth watching. Oliver Glasner’s side have been one of the more interesting teams in the bottom half of the table this season, and two games in a week gives them the opportunity to move the needle on their final points tally before the curtain comes down.
Official confirmation from the Premier League was expected on the day of the reports, meaning FPL managers now have the clarity they need to plan around the final stretch of the season. With City and Palace the only sides doubling, the temptation to load up on both squads’ assets for Gameweek 35 and beyond is only going to grow.