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Preamble

Hello and welcome on this weekend morning. We bring you your comprehensive football coverage hub, centering on the day's major soccer fixtures. England's top division presents fascinating contests between the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a crucial Scottish encounter sees the Hoops and the Jambos, coupled with Women's Super League games plus FA Cup round two excitement 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 stole the spotlight despite did not play in Liverpool's hectic six-goal thriller at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable critique on manager Arne Slot, claiming him of tossing him “to the wolves” following being left out the starting lineup for the third straight game. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the club's disappointing beginning to the campaign.

“I can’t believe … I am sat 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 professional life. I’m very, very disappointed.”

The other significant top-flight development was Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's decisive goal. That result, coupled with City's straightforward victory over Sunderland, has left a very tight battle at the summit of the standings.

Away from English leagues, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome the Hammers for an afternoon start. The visitors have displayed signs of improvement since the arrival of head coach Nuno. A creditable midweek draw means he has presided over a run of only one loss in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's FA Cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth successive victory on the road in the league, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their recent away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

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

Other standout results included:

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

Today's cup action features:

• 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 campaign's top flight.

1. The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly vying for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group includes several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Can any put together a winning run to threaten the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to stay up probably involves several clubs, with Wolves appearing especially vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the battle.

Other Matches Today

Outside the Premier League and FA Cup, Sunday's fixtures feature:

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)

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 Mohamed Salah's comments rages on. There are two distinct sides to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? Or is boss Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win matches?

Fan opinion seems divided:

“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, 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 must have overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Could he move on loan to another European club? Might he accept a lucrative offer and head for the Saudi Pro League following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier matches were called off on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken ill. 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 field unplayable.

At this time, there is no confirmation on when these matches will be rescheduled.