Top Flight Build-up and Football Association Cup Round Two Updates and Additional Coverage

Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome on this Sunday day. We bring you your comprehensive football live center, focusing on the day's major football action. The Premier League offers intriguing contests between Brighton & West Ham as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL games plus FA Cup second round drama completes the lineup. Feel free to get in touch and let us know how you'll be following the action. Let's get into it.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah commandeered the spotlight despite was absent in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. He launched an astonishing critique on manager the Dutch coach, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” following being left out the first eleven for the third straight game. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the team's poor start to the season.

“I can’t believe … 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 career. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other significant top-flight story was Arsenal's injury-time loss at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's winning strike. That result, coupled with Manchester City's comfortable win over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close race at the top of the table.

Outside the English leagues, the Argentine maestro once again played the hero for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome West Ham in a 2pm GMT start. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the arrival of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive midweek draw means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last year's FA Cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

The FA Cup round two delivered plenty of drama yesterday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare made history by advancing to the third round for the first time ever.

Other standout outcomes included:

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

Sunday's cup action includes:

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

The Premier League's Three Tiers

It appears three distinct battlegroups developing in this season's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are seemingly contending for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested section includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the European places. Can any string together a winning run to threaten 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 particularly vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the battle.

Other Matches Today

Outside the Premier League and FA 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)

European Football:

• 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 explosive interview rages on. There are two clear camps to the argument. Has he done enough to voice his frustration as a bona fide club icon? On the other, is manager Arne Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters seems split:

“United fan here. 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 club legend.”

“Can we take a moment to feel sorry 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? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will he move on loan to another European club? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and move to the Saudi Pro League following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier matches were abandoned yesterday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the early stages 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 playing surface at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – made the pitch unsuitable.

At this time, there is no word yet on when either game will be rescheduled.