🔗 Share this article

Preamble

Hello and welcome on this Sunday day. We bring you your all-in-one football live hub, focusing on today's major football fixtures. England's top division offers fascinating matches featuring Brighton & West Ham and the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a crucial Scottish Premiership clash sees Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL action plus FA Cup second round drama completes the schedule. As always send us your views telling us your plans for watching the action. Let's get into it.

Yesterday's Headlines

Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the headlines despite did not play in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. He launched an remarkable critique on manager the Dutch coach, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” after being left out the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the team's poor beginning to the season.

“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another major Premier League development was Arsenal's last-gasp loss at Villa Park, sealed by Emi Buendía's decisive strike. This outcome, combined with City's comfortable victory over Sunderland, has left a very tight race at the summit of the standings.

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

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton welcome the Hammers for an afternoon kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the appointment of manager Nuno. An impressive midweek draw means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth straight victory on the road in the league, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition second round provided lots of drama on Saturday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare made history by reaching the third round for the first time in their history.

Other standout outcomes included:

• Swindon Town thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge beat Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham before eventually suffering a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's FA Cup schedule includes:

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

Developing Mini-Leagues

There seems to be three separate mini-leagues forming in this season's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly vying for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested section includes several big names, all with designs on the European places. Will any put together a consistent form 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 appearing especially in trouble. Teams like others could also be sucked into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Outside the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's fixtures 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)

The Salah Debate Continues

The reaction from the Liverpool forward's comments rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a true club icon? On the other, is boss Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win games?

Fan opinion appears divided:

“United fan here. 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.”

“Can we take a moment to feel sorry 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 bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Will he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he take the pay day and move to the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

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

• The game between Charlton and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute 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 pitch at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

There is no confirmation on when either game will be rescheduled.