Preamble
Morning everyone on this weekend day. We bring you your comprehensive matchday live center, focusing on today's major soccer fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing matches between Brighton & West Ham as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter between the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside Women's Super League action and cup round two excitement rounds out the lineup. Feel free to share your thoughts and let us know how you'll be following today's games. Without further ado.
Yesterday's Headlines
Liverpool's Egyptian star grabbed the spotlight even though he not featuring in the Reds' thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds United. Salah delivered an stunning critique on manager the Dutch coach, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after omission from the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the team's poor start to the campaign.
“I can’t believe … I’m sitting 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 the Gunners' injury-time defeat at Villa Park, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning goal. That result, coupled with Manchester City's comfortable win over Sunderland, makes for a very tight race at the top of the standings.
Away from English leagues, the Argentine maestro once again wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.
Sunday's Top-Flight Matches
Brighton host the Hammers in a 2pm GMT start. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement since the appointment of head coach Nuno. A creditable midweek draw means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in five games.
Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
The FA Cup second round provided plenty of drama on Saturday. National League South side the Seagulls created a historic moment by advancing to the third round for the first time ever.
Additional standout outcomes featured:
- Swindon hammered Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge United defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
- Sixth tier Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham Town before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.
Today's FA Cup action includes:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (early kickoff)
- Boreham Wood v Newport County
- Gateshead v Walsall
- Blackpool v Carlisle United
The Premier League's Three Tiers
It appears three separate mini-leagues developing in this season's top flight.
- Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are apparently vying for the championship.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight section includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the top five. Can any put together a consistent form to threaten the top teams?
- The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up likely concerns several clubs, with Wolves looking particularly in trouble. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the fight.
Elsewhere in Football
Away from the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's fixtures 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)
Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star
The reaction from Mohamed Salah's comments continues. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the debate. Has he done enough to speak out as a bona fide club icon? On the other, is boss Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?
Fan opinion appears 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. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”
“Can we pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”
The big question for Mo Salah, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will he move on loan to another European club? Or will he take the pay day and head for the Saudi Pro League after the AFCON?
Matches Abandoned
A pair of second-tier fixtures were abandoned on Saturday.
- The match between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a supporter was taken ill. It was later confirmed the fan passed away in hospital.
- Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unplayable.
There is no confirmation on when either game will be rescheduled.
