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Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome to another Sunday day. This is your all-in-one football coverage hub, focusing on today's major soccer fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside WSL action plus FA Cup second round excitement completes the schedule. We encourage send us your views telling us your plans for watching the action. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah stole the headlines despite was absent in the Reds' thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable attack on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “under the bus” following omission from the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the club's disappointing beginning to the campaign.

“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian stated. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my career. I’m very, very disappointed.”

The other significant Premier League development saw Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's winning goal. That result, coupled with Manchester City's comfortable win over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close race at the summit of the table.

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

Today's Premier League Fixtures

The Seagulls welcome West Ham for an afternoon start. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the appointment of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth straight victory on the road in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents to nil in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition round two provided lots of drama on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls made history by advancing to the third round for the first time in their history.

Additional notable results featured:

• Swindon thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United beat Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Sixth tier Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham before eventually suffering a 6-2 loss.

Today's FA Cup action includes:

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

The Premier League's Three Tiers

There seems to be three distinct battlegroups developing in this campaign's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently vying for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight section contains several big names, all with designs on the top five. Can any put together a consistent form to challenge the top teams?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking especially in trouble. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's fixtures 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 fallout from Mohamed Salah's comments rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the debate. On one hand, has Salah done enough to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? Or is manager Arne Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win games?

Views from supporters seems split:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Perhaps we should take a moment to feel sorry 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 the Egyptian king, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Could he move on loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and head for the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

Two Championship fixtures were abandoned on Saturday.

• The match between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused 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 paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – made the field unplayable.

There is no confirmation on when these matches will be replayed.