Premier League Build-up alongside Football Association Cup Round Two Latest News and Additional Coverage

Opening Thoughts

Morning everyone on this Sunday morning. This is your comprehensive football live center, highlighting the day's major football fixtures. England's top division presents fascinating matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers and Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter sees Celtic and Hearts, alongside WSL action plus cup second round drama completes the schedule. Feel free to share your thoughts telling us how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Liverpool's Egyptian star grabbed the spotlight despite not featuring in Liverpool's hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Salah delivered an remarkable attack on manager the Dutch coach, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive match. He expressed 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,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my professional life. I’m very, very disappointed.”

The other major top-flight story saw Arsenal's injury-time loss at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. That result, coupled with City's straightforward victory over Sunderland, has left a very tight race at the summit of the table.

Outside the English football, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the MLS Cup, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton host the Hammers for an 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the arrival of head coach Nuno. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last year's cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth successive away win in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition round two provided lots of drama yesterday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by advancing to the next round for the first time in their history.

Additional notable results included:

• Swindon Town thrashed Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport on penalties.
• Non-league Buxton led against Cheltenham before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Today's FA Cup action features:

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

The Premier League's Three Tiers

It appears a trio of distinct battlegroups developing in this season's top flight.

1. The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly contending for the championship.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group includes several big names, all with designs on the top five. Can any string together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to stay up likely involves several clubs, with Wolves looking especially vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Outside the English top flight and domestic 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 reaction from the Liverpool forward's comments continues. There are two distinct sides to the argument. Has he earned the right to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to try to win games?

Views from supporters seems split:

“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Can we pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He's probably overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be burned. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he accept a lucrative offer and move to the Saudi Pro League after the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

Two Championship matches were abandoned on Saturday.

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

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