Premier League calm over backlog

20 December 2010 15:00

The Premier League are confident the big freeze will not lead to a serious fixture pile-up at the end of the season.

Eight matches have been postponed due to the weather so far - including two involving league leaders Manchester United.

But Premier League officials insist there are sufficient dates set aside to cope with such postponements, and a spokesman said: "Our football department will already have contingency dates in mind and will work closely with the affected clubs to get new dates agreed as quickly as possible."

Blackpool v Manchester United has already been rearranged to the last week in January and other matches can take place if and when clubs are knocked out of the FA Cup - as either United or Liverpool will be in the third round.

There is also the precedent for some top-flight matches to be played in those weeks usually reserved for European games.

Source: PA