🔗 Share this article

Preamble

Hello and welcome to another Sunday morning. This is your all-in-one football live center, focusing on the day's key football fixtures. England's top division offers fascinating matches between the Seagulls and the Hammers and Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, coupled with Women's Super League action plus FA Cup second round drama completes the schedule. We encourage share your thoughts and let us know how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah grabbed the spotlight even though he did not play in the Reds' hectic six-goal thriller at Leeds United. He launched an astonishing attack on boss the Dutch coach, claiming him of tossing him “to the wolves” after being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive match. He expressed feeling singled out for blame for the club's poor start to the season.

“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah stated. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another major top-flight development was Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's winning strike. That result, combined with Manchester City's comfortable victory over Sunderland, makes for a incredibly close race at the summit of the standings.

Outside the English leagues, the Argentine maestro as ever played the hero for his MLS side as they triumphed the MLS Cup, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton welcome the Hammers for an 2pm GMT start. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement since the appointment of head coach Nuno. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of only one loss in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last season's FA Cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth successive away win in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

The FA Cup round two provided plenty of drama yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.

Additional notable outcomes included:

• Swindon hammered Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United beat Stockport County on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham Town before eventually suffering a 6-2 loss.

Today's FA Cup schedule includes:

• 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 a trio of distinct battlegroups developing in this season's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly contending for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight group contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Will any string together a winning run to threaten the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up probably involves several clubs, with Wolves appearing particularly in trouble. Clubs such as others could also be dragged into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the Premier League and domestic cup, today's schedule feature:

Women's Super League (WSL): (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 fallout from the Liverpool forward's comments continues. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. Has he done enough to speak out as a bona fide club icon? On the other, is boss Slot right in doing whatever it takes to try to win matches?

Fan opinion seems divided:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Can we pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He's probably overlooked that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia after the Africa Cup of Nations?

Sad News from the Championship

Two second-tier fixtures were called off yesterday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later confirmed the fan passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

There is no word yet on when either game will be rescheduled.