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Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome on this Sunday morning. This is your comprehensive football coverage center, highlighting the day's major football action. England's top division presents intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a crucial Scottish clash sees Celtic and Hearts, alongside WSL action and FA Cup second round drama completes the lineup. Feel free to share your thoughts telling us how you'll be following today's games. Let's get into it.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah commandeered the headlines even though he not featuring in Liverpool's hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. He launched an stunning attack on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of throwing him “to the wolves” following being left out the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. He expressed that he felt made a scapegoat for the team's disappointing beginning to the campaign.

“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah stated. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other significant top-flight story saw the Gunners' injury-time loss at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's decisive strike. That result, coupled with Manchester City's comfortable win over Sunderland, makes for a incredibly close battle at the summit of the standings.

Outside English leagues, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

The Seagulls welcome West Ham in a afternoon kickoff. West Ham have shown flickers of life under the arrival of head coach Nuno. An impressive midweek draw means he has overseen a run of only one loss in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last season's cup quarter-final. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth straight victory on the road in the league, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition second round provided lots of drama yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by advancing to the next round for the first time ever.

Other notable outcomes featured:

• Swindon Town thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Sixth tier Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham Town before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Today's cup action features:

• 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 distinct mini-leagues developing in this campaign's top flight.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are seemingly vying for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight group includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the European places. Can any string together a consistent form to challenge the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to stay up probably concerns several clubs, with Wolves appearing particularly in trouble. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the fight.

Other Matches Today

Outside the English top flight and FA Cup, today'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)

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 rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a bona fide club icon? Or is boss Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to try to win matches?

Fan opinion appears divided:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Can we pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

What next for the Egyptian king, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and move to the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

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

• The match between Charlton and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a fan 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 pitch unsuitable.

At this time, there is no word yet on when either game will be rescheduled.