Top Flight Preview and FA Cup Second Round Latest News and Additional Coverage
Preamble
Hello and welcome to another Sunday morning. We bring you your comprehensive matchday live hub, centering on the day's key football action. The Premier League presents fascinating contests featuring Brighton & West Ham as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a crucial Scottish Premiership encounter between the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside Women's Super League action plus FA Cup round two drama rounds out the schedule. We encourage share your thoughts telling us your plans for watching the action. Here we go.
Yesterday's Headlines
Liverpool's Egyptian star stole the headlines despite was absent in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of throwing him “under the bus” after omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive game. He expressed feeling singled out for blame for the club's disappointing start to the campaign.
“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first occasion in my professional life. I’m very, very disappointed.”
Another major top-flight story saw the Gunners' last-gasp loss at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's decisive strike. That result, coupled with City's straightforward victory over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close battle at the top of the table.
Outside English football, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the showpiece.
Today's Premier League Fixtures
The Seagulls welcome West Ham in a 2pm GMT start. West Ham have shown flickers of life under the arrival of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive midweek draw means he has presided over a run of only one loss in five games.
Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last year's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive away win in the league, having beaten three opponents to nil in their latest away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
England's famous cup competition round two provided plenty of excitement on Saturday. National League South side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time ever.
Additional standout outcomes featured:
- Swindon Town thrashed Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge United defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
- Sixth tier Buxton led against Cheltenham Town before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.
Sunday'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
Developing Mini-Leagues
It appears three distinct battlegroups developing in this campaign's top flight.
- The Title Race: The current leading pack are apparently vying for the championship.
- The Packed Middle: A very tight group contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the top five. Will any put together a winning run to challenge the top teams?
- The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to avoid the drop probably involves several clubs, with Wolves looking particularly in trouble. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the battle.
Elsewhere in Football
Outside the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's fixtures include:
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 fallout from Mohamed Salah's comments continues. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the debate. On one hand, has Salah done enough to voice his frustration as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win matches?
Views from supporters seems 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. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”
“Perhaps we should take a moment to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He's probably forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”
The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Will he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?
Sad News from the Championship
Two second-tier fixtures were called off yesterday.
- The game between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later announced the supporter died in hospital.
- Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – made the pitch unsuitable.
There is no word yet on when either game will be rescheduled.