Preamble
Morning everyone to another Sunday day. This is your all-in-one matchday coverage hub, focusing on today's major football action. The Premier League presents intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a crucial Scottish encounter between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL action and cup second round excitement completes the lineup. Feel free to share your thoughts and let us know how you'll be following the action. Without further ado.
Major Stories from Saturday
Mohamed Salah commandeered the headlines even though he did not play in the Reds' thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. He launched an astonishing critique on manager Arne Slot, claiming him of throwing him “under the bus” following being left out the starting lineup for the third straight match. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the team's disappointing beginning to the campaign.
“It's unbelievable … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first time in my professional life. I’m very, very disappointed.”
Another major Premier League story was Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. This outcome, coupled with City's straightforward win over Sunderland, makes for a very tight race at the top of the standings.
Away from the English football, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they lifted the league championship, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.
Sunday's Top-Flight Matches
Brighton welcome West Ham for an afternoon start. The visitors have displayed signs of improvement since the arrival of head coach Nuno. An impressive point at Manchester United 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 quarter-final. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth successive away win in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest travels.
Cup Action Continues
The FA Cup round two delivered plenty of excitement 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 standout outcomes featured:
- Swindon Town thrashed Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge United defeated Stockport County on penalties.
- Non-league Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham Town before eventually enduring a 6-2 loss.
Today's FA Cup action features:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (early start)
- 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 forming in this campaign's Premier League.
- Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are apparently contending for the championship.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested section contains several big names, all with designs on the top five. Will any string together a winning run to challenge the top teams?
- The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to avoid the drop probably concerns several clubs, with Wolverhampton Wanderers appearing especially vulnerable. Clubs such as 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 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 reaction from Mohamed Salah's comments continues. There are two distinct sides to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win games?
Fan opinion seems split:
“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”
“Perhaps we should take a moment to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, 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 another European club? Might he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia after the Africa Cup of Nations?
Matches Abandoned
A pair of second-tier fixtures were abandoned yesterday.
- The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later announced the supporter 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 – rendered the field unplayable.
There is no word yet on when either game will be rescheduled.
