🔗 Share this article

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 between Brighton & West Ham as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter sees Celtic and Hearts, alongside WSL games and cup second round excitement rounds out the schedule. Feel free to share your thoughts telling us how you'll be following today's games. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Liverpool's Egyptian star stole the spotlight even though he did not play in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an stunning critique on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of throwing him “to the wolves” following being left out the first eleven for the third straight game. The player stated that he felt singled out for blame for the club's disappointing start to the season.

“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other significant top-flight story was Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's decisive strike. That result, combined with Manchester City's straightforward victory over Sunderland, has left a incredibly close battle at the top of the standings.

Away from English leagues, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

The Seagulls host the Hammers for an 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have displayed signs of life under the appointment of manager Nuno. A creditable 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 cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight victory on the road in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their latest travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition round two provided lots of drama on Saturday. National League South side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.

Other notable outcomes included:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge beat Stockport County on penalties.
• Sixth tier Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before finally suffering a 6-2 loss.

Sunday's FA Cup schedule 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

It appears a trio of separate battlegroups developing in this campaign's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are apparently vying for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group contains several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Will any string together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up likely concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers appearing particularly in trouble. Teams like others could also be sucked into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the English top flight and FA Cup, today's schedule include:

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 fallout from the Liverpool forward's comments continues. There are two clear camps to the argument. On one hand, has Salah done enough to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? Or is boss Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to try to win matches?

Fan opinion seems divided:

“United fan here. 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 club legend.”

“Perhaps we should 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.”

The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Might he accept a lucrative offer and move to Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier matches were abandoned yesterday.

• The game between Charlton and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken unwell. It was later announced the fan died in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the pitch unplayable.

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