🔗 Share this article

Preamble

Morning everyone on this weekend morning. This is your all-in-one football live center, centering on today's major football fixtures. The Premier League presents intriguing contests between the Seagulls and the Hammers and Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside WSL games and FA Cup round two drama completes the schedule. Feel free to share your thoughts and let us know how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah commandeered the headlines despite was absent in the Reds' hectic six-goal thriller at Elland Road. He launched an remarkable attack on boss Arne Slot, claiming him of throwing him “to the wolves” following being left out the starting lineup for the third straight game. He expressed that he felt singled out for blame for the club's poor start to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first time in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another significant top-flight story was the Gunners' injury-time defeat at Villa Park, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. This outcome, coupled with City's straightforward win over Sunderland, makes for a very tight battle at the top of the table.

Outside English football, Lionel Messi once again wrote the script for Inter Miami as they lifted the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome the Hammers for an afternoon kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of life under the arrival of head coach Nuno. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive away win in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents to nil in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition round two provided plenty of drama on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls made history by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.

Other notable results featured:

• Swindon hammered Bolton – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge beat Stockport County on penalties.
• Sixth tier Buxton FC led against Cheltenham Town before finally suffering a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's FA Cup schedule features:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (early kickoff)
• Boreham Wood v Newport County
• Gateshead v Walsall
• Blackpool v Carlisle United

The Premier League's Three Tiers

There seems to be three separate mini-leagues developing in this campaign's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are apparently contending for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Will any put together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to avoid the drop probably involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves looking especially vulnerable. Clubs such as others could also be sucked into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Outside the Premier League and domestic cup, Sunday's schedule include:

Women's Top Flight: (All 12pm GMT unless stated)

• Leicester City v Manchester City
• London City Lionesses v Brighton & Hove Albion
• Manchester United v West Ham United
• Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
• Chelsea v Everton (2.30pm GMT)

Around the Continent:

• Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (8pm CET)
• Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim (4.30pm CET)

The Salah Debate Continues

The reaction from Mohamed Salah's explosive interview rages on. There are two distinct sides to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to speak out as a true club icon? Or is manager Slot right in doing whatever it takes to try to win matches?

Views from supporters appears split:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Perhaps we should take a moment to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for the Saudi Pro League after the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier fixtures were abandoned yesterday.

• The game between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken unwell. It was later announced the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

There is no confirmation on when these matches will be rescheduled.