🔗 Share this article

Introduction

Hello and welcome to another weekend day. We bring you your comprehensive matchday live hub, highlighting today's major football action. England's top division presents fascinating matches between the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash sees Celtic and Hearts, alongside WSL games plus cup second round drama rounds out the schedule. We encourage get in touch telling us how you'll be following today's games. Let's get into it.

Yesterday's Headlines

Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the spotlight despite not featuring in Liverpool's hectic six-goal thriller at Elland Road. Salah delivered an remarkable attack on manager Arne Slot, claiming him of throwing him “under the bus” after being left out the first eleven for the third straight game. The player stated that he felt singled out for blame for the club's disappointing beginning to the season.

“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other significant Premier League development was the Gunners' injury-time loss at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning goal. This outcome, combined with Manchester City's comfortable victory over Sunderland, makes for a very tight race at the top of the table.

Outside English football, the Argentine maestro once again wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton host the Hammers for an afternoon start. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the appointment of head coach Nuno. An impressive midweek draw means he has overseen a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth straight victory on the road in the league, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

The FA Cup round two delivered plenty of excitement on Saturday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by advancing to the next round for the first time ever.

Additional notable results included:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport on penalties.
• Non-league Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham Town before finally enduring a 6-2 loss.

Today's cup schedule features:

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

The Premier League's Three Tiers

There seems to be a trio of distinct mini-leagues developing in this season's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly vying for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested group contains several big names, all with aspirations for the European places. Will any put together a winning run to challenge the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves looking particularly in trouble. Teams like others could also be dragged into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the Premier League and FA Cup, today's fixtures 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)

Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star

The fallout from the Liverpool forward's comments continues. There are two distinct sides to the debate. Has he earned the right to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Arne Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win games?

Views from supporters seems divided:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Perhaps we should take a moment to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

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

Sad News from the Championship

Two second-tier matches were abandoned yesterday.

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

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