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Preamble

Good morning on this Sunday morning. We bring you your comprehensive matchday coverage hub, focusing on the day's major football fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing contests between Brighton & West Ham and the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a crucial Scottish Premiership clash sees Celtic and Hearts, alongside Women's Super League action and cup second round drama completes the lineup. As always share your thoughts and let us know your plans for watching today's games. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah commandeered the headlines even though he was absent in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. Salah delivered an stunning critique on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after being left out the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the team's disappointing start to the season.

“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah stated. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another major top-flight development was Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's decisive goal. That result, coupled with Manchester City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, has left a incredibly close race at the top of the standings.

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

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome West Ham in a 2pm GMT start. West Ham have shown flickers of life under the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable point at Manchester United 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 cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having beaten three opponents without conceding in their recent travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

The FA Cup second round provided plenty of drama on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.

Additional standout outcomes featured:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport County on spot-kicks.
• Sixth tier Buxton FC led against Cheltenham Town before eventually suffering a 6-2 defeat.

Today's cup action 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 three separate battlegroups developing in this season's Premier League.

1. Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are seemingly contending for the championship.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the European places. Can any string together a winning run to threaten the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to avoid the drop likely concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves looking especially vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the fight.

Other Matches Today

Away from the Premier League and FA 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)

The Salah Debate Continues

The fallout from Mohamed Salah's comments rages on. There are two clear camps to the argument. Has he earned the right to speak out as a bona fide club icon? On the other, is manager Arne Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win games?

Fan opinion seems 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 club legend.”

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

The big question for Mo Salah, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Will he seek a loan to another European club? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier matches were called off yesterday.

• The match between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken ill. It was later announced the supporter passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers'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 occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

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