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Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome on this Sunday day. We bring you your all-in-one football live hub, focusing on the day's key soccer fixtures. England's top division presents intriguing contests between the Seagulls and the Hammers and the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside Women's Super League action plus FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the lineup. As always get in touch telling us how you'll be following today's games. Without further ado.

Major Stories from Saturday

Liverpool's Egyptian star grabbed the spotlight even though he did not play in the Reds' hectic six-goal thriller at Elland Road. Salah delivered an astonishing attack on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of throwing him “under the bus” after omission from the first eleven for the third straight match. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the team's poor start to the season.

“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other major top-flight story was the Gunners' injury-time loss at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's winning strike. That result, combined with Manchester City's straightforward victory over Sunderland, has left a very tight race at the summit of the table.

Outside the English football, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

The Seagulls welcome the Hammers in a afternoon start. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the appointment of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable midweek draw means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's FA Cup quarter-final. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their recent travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition round two provided lots of excitement yesterday. National League South side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time ever.

Other notable outcomes included:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport on penalties.
• Sixth tier Buxton led against Cheltenham Town before eventually suffering a 6-2 loss.

Today'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

The Premier League's Three Tiers

It appears three distinct mini-leagues developing in this season's Premier League.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently vying for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight group contains several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Will any string together a winning run to challenge the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to stay up likely involves several clubs, with Wolves looking especially vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the fight.

Other Matches Today

Outside the Premier League and FA Cup, today's schedule 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)

The Salah Debate Continues

The fallout from the Liverpool forward's explosive interview continues. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the argument. Has he done enough to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? Or is manager Arne Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to try to win games?

Fan opinion appears split:

“United fan here. If memory serves, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Can we pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have 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 bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Will he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and head for Saudi Arabia following the AFCON?

Sad News from the Championship

Two second-tier matches were abandoned on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken ill. It was later announced the fan died in hospital.
• Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

There is no word yet on when either game will be replayed.