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Preamble

Good morning on this Sunday day. We bring you your comprehensive matchday live center, highlighting the day's major football action. The Premier League offers fascinating matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a crucial Scottish Premiership encounter between Celtic and Hearts, alongside Women's Super League action and cup second round excitement completes the schedule. We encourage send us your views and let us know your plans for watching the action. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the headlines even though he not featuring in Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on boss Arne Slot, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” after being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive match. The player stated that he felt singled out for blame for the club's poor beginning to the campaign.

“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian stated. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another major Premier League development saw the Gunners' last-gasp loss at Aston Villa, sealed by Emi Buendía's winning goal. This outcome, coupled with City's straightforward victory over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close race at the top of the table.

Away from the English football, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome the Hammers for an afternoon kickoff. The visitors have displayed signs of life since the arrival of head coach Nuno. An impressive midweek draw means he has presided over a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive away win in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

The FA Cup round two provided lots of drama on Saturday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare made history 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.
• Non-league Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before eventually suffering a 6-2 loss.

Sunday's cup action includes:

• 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 a trio of distinct mini-leagues developing in this season's Premier League.

1. Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are seemingly vying for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested section contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the European places. Can any put together a consistent form to challenge the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to avoid the drop likely involves several clubs, with Wolves looking especially vulnerable. Teams like others could also be sucked into the battle.

Other Matches Today

Away from the English top flight and FA Cup, today's schedule feature:

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)

Around the Continent:

• 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 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 attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters seems split:

“United fan here. 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 take a moment to feel sorry 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 the Egyptian king, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Could he move on loan to a club abroad? Or will he take the pay day and move to Saudi Arabia after the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

A pair of Championship matches were abandoned on Saturday.

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

There is no confirmation on when either game will be rescheduled.