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Opening Thoughts

Morning everyone to another Sunday day. We bring you your comprehensive matchday coverage center, focusing on the day's major football action. The Premier League offers intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers and the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a crucial Scottish Premiership clash between the Hoops and the Jambos, coupled with Women's Super League games and FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the lineup. As always send us your views telling us how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the headlines even though he was absent in the Reds' thrilling six-goal thriller at Elland Road. Salah delivered an astonishing attack on boss Arne Slot, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” following omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive match. The player stated that he felt singled out for blame for the club's disappointing beginning to the campaign.

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

Another major Premier League story saw the Gunners' last-gasp loss at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. This outcome, coupled with City's comfortable victory over Sunderland, makes for a incredibly close battle at the top of the standings.

Outside English leagues, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they lifted the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

The Seagulls host West Ham in a afternoon kickoff. West Ham have displayed signs of life since the appointment of manager Nuno. A creditable midweek draw means he has presided over a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last year's FA Cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth straight victory on the road in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition round two provided plenty of excitement on Saturday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by advancing to the next round for the first time in their history.

Other standout results featured:

• Swindon thrashed Bolton – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport County on spot-kicks.
• Sixth tier Buxton led against Cheltenham Town before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Today's FA Cup schedule 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 separate battlegroups developing in this season's top flight.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are apparently contending for the championship.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested section contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the European places. Will any string together a winning run to challenge the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers appearing particularly vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the battle.

Other Matches Today

Outside the English top flight and FA Cup, Sunday's fixtures include:

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)

The Salah Debate Continues

The reaction from the Liverpool forward's explosive interview rages on. There are two clear camps to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to speak out as a bona fide club icon? On the other, is manager Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters 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. This is no way to treat a club legend.”

“Can we take a moment to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He's probably forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next 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 the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of second-tier fixtures were called off yesterday.

• The match between Charlton and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later confirmed the fan died in hospital.
• Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

There is no confirmation on when these matches will be rescheduled.