FA Cup replays in the 3rd and 4th rounds could be scrapped again this season in order to help clubs catch up on games postponed due to the Queen's death.

Following Queen Elizabeth II dying on Thursday, September 8 all games between September 9-11 were cancelled.

Three Premier League games will also be cancelled this weekend, Brighton vs Crystal Palace, Chelsea vs Liverpool and Manchester United vs Leeds.

It leaves clubs facing a potential fixture pile-up later in the season, which will be made worse by the pause in the season to come in November/December for the World Cup in Qatar.

Very few spare midweeks will be available, so the PA news agency understands that scrapping replays in the FA Cup is one solution under consideration to solve the fixture backlog.

READ MORE: Premier League confirms when football will return amid national mourning period for Queen

A Premier League statement on cancelling the three matches this weekend read: “Following extensive consultation with clubs, police, local Safety Advisory Groups and other relevant authorities, there was no other option but to postpone the three fixtures.

“The Premier League would like to thank the UK Football Policing Unit and other police forces across the country, as well as our broadcast partners, for their support during this process, and will continue to liaise with them ahead of the weekend.

“For the matches being played during the period of national mourning, tributes will be paid to the Queen at Premier League stadiums.

“New dates for the postponed matches will be announced in due course.”