🔗 Share this article

Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome on this Sunday morning. We bring you your comprehensive football coverage center, highlighting today's key football fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing contests featuring 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 action plus FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the schedule. We encourage get in touch telling us your plans for watching the action. Without further ado.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah grabbed the headlines despite did not play in the Reds' thrilling 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 straight game. He expressed feeling singled out for blame for the team's disappointing beginning to the season.

“It's unbelievable … I am sat 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’m very, very disappointed.”

Another significant Premier League development saw the Gunners' injury-time defeat at Villa Park, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, coupled with Manchester City's straightforward victory over Sunderland, makes for a very tight battle at the summit of the standings.

Outside English football, Lionel Messi once again wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton welcome West Ham for an afternoon start. The visitors have displayed signs of life under the appointment of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last year's cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

The FA Cup second round provided lots of drama yesterday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time ever.

Additional notable results included:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport County on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before finally suffering a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's cup schedule includes:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (12.30pm GMT kickoff)
• Boreham Wood v Newport County
• Gateshead v Walsall
• Blackpool v Carlisle United

The Premier League's Three Tiers

It appears a trio of separate battlegroups developing in this campaign's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are apparently contending for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight section contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Can any put together a consistent form to threaten the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to avoid the drop likely involves several clubs, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking particularly in trouble. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the battle.

Other Matches Today

Outside the Premier League and FA Cup, Sunday's schedule 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)

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 explosive interview rages on. There are two distinct sides to the debate. Has he done enough to voice his frustration as a true Liverpool legend? Or is manager Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win games?

Fan opinion 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 club legend.”

“Perhaps we should take a moment to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He's probably forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning 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 burned. Will he seek a loan to another European club? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and move to the Saudi Pro League after the AFCON?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of Championship matches were called off on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a fan was taken ill. It was later confirmed the supporter passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – made the field unplayable.

At this time, there is no confirmation on when either game will be replayed.