🔗 Share this article

Introduction

Morning everyone on this Sunday day. This is your comprehensive football coverage hub, highlighting today's key football fixtures. The Premier League offers fascinating contests featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers and the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish clash between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL action plus FA Cup round two excitement completes the lineup. As always share your thoughts telling us how you'll be following today's games. Let's get into it.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah grabbed the spotlight even though he not featuring in Liverpool's hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. Salah delivered an stunning attack on boss the Dutch coach, claiming him of tossing him “to the wolves” after omission from the first eleven for the third straight match. He expressed that he felt made a scapegoat for the club's poor start to the season.

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

The other significant top-flight story was the Gunners' last-gasp defeat at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. That result, coupled with City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close battle at the summit of the standings.

Outside English leagues, Lionel Messi once again played the hero for Inter Miami as they lifted the league championship, defeating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

The Seagulls welcome the Hammers for an 2pm GMT kickoff. West Ham have shown flickers of life under the appointment of manager Nuno. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in five games.

Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last season's cup quarter-final. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth successive away win in the league, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition round two provided lots of excitement yesterday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare made history by reaching the third round for the first time ever.

Other standout outcomes included:

• Swindon Town 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.

Today's cup action features:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (early start)
• Boreham Wood v Newport County
• Gateshead v Walsall
• Blackpool v Carlisle United

Developing Mini-Leagues

It appears a trio of separate mini-leagues 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 incredibly congested group includes several big names, all with designs on the European places. Will any put together a winning run to challenge the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to stay up likely involves several clubs, with Wolves appearing particularly in trouble. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.

Other Matches Today

Outside the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's schedule feature:

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 explosive interview rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the debate. On one hand, has Salah done enough to voice his frustration as a bona fide club icon? On the other, is boss Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win games?

Views from supporters seems divided:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a club legend.”

“Can we pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier fixtures were abandoned on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken ill. It was later confirmed the fan died in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the pitch unplayable.

At this time, there is no confirmation on when these matches will be rescheduled.