Premier League Build-up and FA Cup Second Round Developments and Additional Coverage

Opening Thoughts

Good morning on this Sunday day. We bring you your all-in-one football live hub, focusing on the day's key football fixtures. The Premier League presents fascinating contests featuring Brighton & West Ham and Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside WSL action and FA Cup second round excitement completes the schedule. As always get in touch telling us your plans for watching today's games. Let's get into it.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah commandeered the headlines despite did not play in Liverpool's thrilling six-goal thriller at Elland Road. He launched an remarkable critique on manager Arne Slot, claiming him of throwing him “under the bus” following being left out the first eleven for the third straight match. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the club's disappointing start to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … 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 occasion in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another major Premier League story saw the Gunners' injury-time loss at Villa Park, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, coupled with City's comfortable victory over Sunderland, has left a incredibly close race at the top of the table.

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

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton host the Hammers for an 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement since the appointment of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last year's FA Cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth successive away win in the league, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

The FA Cup round two provided lots of drama yesterday. National League South side the Seagulls made history by reaching the third round for the first time ever.

Other notable results included:

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

Today's FA Cup schedule 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 three distinct battlegroups forming in this campaign's top flight.

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 Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the European places. Can any put together a winning run to challenge the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to avoid the drop likely 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.

Other Matches Today

Away from the English top flight and domestic 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)

Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star

The reaction from the Liverpool forward's comments continues. There are two clear camps to the argument. On one hand, has Salah done enough to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? Or is boss Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win games?

Views from supporters seems divided:

“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. This is no 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 presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for Mo Salah, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and head for Saudi Arabia after the AFCON?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of second-tier fixtures were abandoned on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the early stages after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later confirmed the supporter passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unplayable.

At this time, there is no word yet on when these matches will be replayed.