🔗 Share this article

Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome to another Sunday day. We bring you your comprehensive matchday live center, centering on today's major soccer fixtures. England's top division offers intriguing matches between the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, coupled with WSL games plus FA Cup round two drama rounds out the lineup. We encourage share your thoughts telling us how you'll be following today's games. Let's get into it.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah commandeered the spotlight even though he was absent in the Reds' hectic six-goal thriller at Elland Road. He launched an remarkable attack on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after being left out the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. He expressed that he felt 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,” the Egyptian stated. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first occasion in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another major Premier League development saw Arsenal's injury-time loss at Aston Villa, sealed by Emi Buendía's winning goal. That result, combined with Manchester City's straightforward victory over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close race at the top of the standings.

Away from English football, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the league championship, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton host the Hammers for an afternoon kickoff. The visitors have displayed signs of improvement under the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's FA Cup quarter-final. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth successive victory on the road in the league, having beaten three opponents to nil in their recent travels.

Cup Action Continues

The FA Cup second round delivered plenty of excitement on Saturday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by advancing to the next round for the first time in their history.

Additional notable outcomes included:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge beat Stockport County on penalties.
• Sixth tier Buxton led against Cheltenham before eventually enduring a 6-2 loss.

Sunday's cup action features:

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

Developing Mini-Leagues

There seems to be three distinct battlegroups forming in this season's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently vying for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A very tight section includes several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Will any string together a consistent form to challenge the top teams?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up probably involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking especially in trouble. Teams like others could also be sucked into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the English top flight and FA Cup, today's fixtures include:

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)

European Football:

• 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 continues. There are two clear camps to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to voice his frustration as a true Liverpool legend? Or is boss Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Fan opinion appears split:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the 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... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for Mo Salah, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Will he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he take the pay day and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of Championship matches were called off on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a fan was taken unwell. It was later confirmed the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unplayable.

There is no confirmation on when either game will be replayed.