Premier League Build-up and Football Association Cup Round Two Updates plus Additional Coverage
Opening Thoughts
Morning everyone to another Sunday day. We bring you your comprehensive matchday live center, focusing on today's major football action. The Premier League offers intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Hearts, alongside Women's Super League action and FA Cup round two drama completes the lineup. Feel free to send us your views telling us your plans for watching today's games. Here we go.
Major Stories from Saturday
Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the spotlight even though he did not play in Liverpool's hectic six-goal thriller at Leeds United. Salah delivered an remarkable attack on manager Arne Slot, claiming him of throwing him “under the bus” following being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive game. The player stated 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, perhaps for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”
Another significant top-flight development was Arsenal's last-gasp loss at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, coupled with City's straightforward victory over Sunderland, makes for a very tight race at the summit of the standings.
Outside the English leagues, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.
Today's Premier League Fixtures
Brighton welcome West Ham for an 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement under the appointment of manager Nuno. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in five games.
Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last season's cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive away win in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their recent away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
England's famous cup competition round two delivered lots of drama yesterday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.
Additional standout outcomes featured:
- Swindon hammered Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge United defeated Stockport County on penalties.
- Non-league Buxton led against Cheltenham Town before finally suffering a 6-2 defeat.
Sunday's cup schedule features:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (early kickoff)
- Boreham Wood v Newport County
- Gateshead v Walsall
- Blackpool v Carlisle United
The Premier League's Three Tiers
There seems to be three separate battlegroups forming in this campaign's top flight.
- Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently vying for the championship.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight group includes several big names, all with designs on the European places. Can any string together a winning run to challenge the elite?
- The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves looking particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the battle.
Other Matches Today
Outside the Premier League and domestic cup, today'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)
Around the Continent:
- 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 explosive interview rages on. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the debate. Has he done enough to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is boss Arne Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to try to win games?
Views from supporters seems divided:
“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”
“Perhaps we should take a moment to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He's probably overlooked that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”
The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will he seek a loan to another European club? Or will he take the pay day and head for Saudi Arabia following the AFCON?
Sad News from the Championship
Two second-tier fixtures were called off on Saturday.
- The match between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the early stages after a fan was taken ill. It was later confirmed the fan passed away in hospital.
- Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second time this season at the ground – made the field unplayable.
At this time, there is no confirmation on when either game will be replayed.
