Following the national championships, Pavliuchenko/Khodykin participated in the 2021 Channel One Trophy, a televised team competition held in lieu of the cancelled European Championships. They were selected for the Red Machine team captained by Alina Zagitova, and placed fourth in both segments of the event, while the Red Machine won the trophy. Following this, they were set to compete at the Russian Cup Final, which was widely perceived as a contest between them and Mishina/Galliamov for the third Russian pairs berth for the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm. Pavliuchenko fell on their throw jump in the short program at the Final, resulting in them placing ten points behind Mishina/Galliamov in that segment. Second as well in the free skate, they took the Final silver.