Top Flight Buildup alongside FA Cup Second Round Latest News and Additional Coverage
Introduction
Morning everyone on this weekend day. We bring you your all-in-one matchday live center, focusing on the day's key football fixtures. The Premier League presents fascinating matches between Brighton & West Ham as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter sees Celtic and Hearts, coupled with Women's Super League games and cup round two excitement completes the schedule. As always get in touch telling us your plans for watching today's games. Without further ado.
Yesterday's Headlines
Mohamed Salah grabbed the spotlight despite was absent in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Salah delivered an remarkable attack on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of throwing him “under the bus” following being left out the starting lineup for the third consecutive match. The player stated feeling made a scapegoat for the club's disappointing beginning to the season.
“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 professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”
The other significant top-flight story was Arsenal's injury-time loss at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. This outcome, combined with Manchester City's straightforward victory over Sunderland, has left a incredibly close battle at the summit of the standings.
Away from the English football, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the league championship, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.
Today's Premier League Fixtures
The Seagulls welcome West Ham for an afternoon kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement under the appointment of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of only one loss in their last five.
Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last year's FA Cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent away fixtures.
Cup Action Continues
England's famous cup competition round two delivered plenty of drama yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time ever.
Other notable results included:
- Swindon Town thrashed Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge beat Stockport County on spot-kicks.
- Non-league Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham Town before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.
Sunday's FA Cup schedule features:
- 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
There seems to be three separate mini-leagues forming in this season's Premier League.
- Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly contending for the top prize.
- The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group includes several big names, all with aspirations for the European places. Can any string together a consistent form to threaten the top teams?
- The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to avoid the drop likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves appearing particularly vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.
Other Matches Today
Away from 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)
Around the Continent:
- 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 clear camps to the debate. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is boss Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to try to win games?
Views from supporters appears divided:
“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a club legend.”
“Can we pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He's probably forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”
What next for Mo Salah, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he accept a lucrative offer and head for the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?
Matches Abandoned
Two Championship fixtures were abandoned on Saturday.
- The match between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a fan was taken unwell. It was later confirmed the supporter passed away in hospital.
- Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the pitch unplayable.
There is no confirmation on when these matches will be rescheduled.