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Preamble

Hello and welcome to another Sunday morning. This is your comprehensive matchday live center, focusing on the day's major football fixtures. The Premier League offers fascinating matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a crucial Scottish Premiership encounter sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside Women's Super League action plus FA Cup round two excitement completes the schedule. We encourage get in touch telling us your plans for watching the action. Let's get into it.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah stole the headlines even though he was absent in Liverpool's hectic six-goal thriller at Elland Road. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on manager Arne Slot, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” following omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive match. The player stated that he felt made a scapegoat for the club's poor beginning to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian stated. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my career. I’m very, very disappointed.”

Another major Premier League story saw the Gunners' injury-time defeat at Villa Park, sealed by Emi Buendía's winning goal. This outcome, combined with Manchester City's comfortable victory over Sunderland, makes for a very tight race at the top of the standings.

Away from the English leagues, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton host the Hammers in a 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have displayed signs of life since the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable midweek draw means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last year's FA Cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth successive victory on the road in the league, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent away fixtures.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition round two provided lots of drama yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare made history by reaching the next round for the first time ever.

Additional standout results featured:

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

Sunday's FA Cup action features:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (12.30pm GMT start)
• 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.

1. The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently vying for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A very tight section includes several big names, all with designs on the top five. Will any string together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to avoid the drop likely concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves appearing particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.

Other Matches Today

Away from the Premier League and FA Cup, Sunday'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)

European Football:

• Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (8pm CET)
• Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim (4.30pm CET)

The Salah Debate Continues

The reaction from Mohamed Salah's comments continues. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to speak out as a bona fide club icon? On the other, is boss Arne Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win matches?

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 club legend.”

“Perhaps we should pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Will he move on loan to another European club? Might he take the pay day and head for the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of second-tier fixtures were abandoned on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a fan was taken unwell. 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 pitch unsuitable.

There is no word yet on when these matches will be rescheduled.