Top Flight Build-up and FA Cup Round Two Developments plus Additional Coverage
Introduction
Good morning on this weekend morning. We bring you your comprehensive football live hub, highlighting today's major football fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing contests featuring Brighton & West Ham and Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside Women's Super League games plus cup round two drama completes the lineup. Feel free to share your thoughts and let us know your plans for watching today's games. Let's get into it.
Major Stories from Saturday
Mohamed Salah commandeered the spotlight even though he was absent in the Reds' thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. Salah delivered an astonishing attack on boss Arne Slot, claiming him of tossing him “to the wolves” after omission from the starting lineup for the third straight match. The player stated feeling made a scapegoat for the club's poor start to the season.
“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”
Another significant top-flight development saw the Gunners' last-gasp loss at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, combined with Manchester City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close race at the top of the table.
Outside the English leagues, the Argentine maestro once again wrote the script for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.
Sunday's Top-Flight Matches
Brighton host the Hammers for an 2pm GMT start. West Ham have shown flickers of improvement under the appointment of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable midweek draw means he has overseen a run of only one loss in their last five.
Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup quarter-final. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their latest away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
England's famous cup competition second round provided plenty of drama on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.
Additional standout outcomes included:
- Swindon thrashed Bolton – a division above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge United defeated Stockport on penalties.
- Non-league Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 loss.
Sunday's cup action features:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (12.30pm GMT start)
- Boreham Wood v Newport County
- Gateshead v Walsall
- Blackpool v Carlisle United
Developing Mini-Leagues
There seems to be a trio of separate mini-leagues forming in this season's top flight.
- Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly vying for the championship.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight group includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Can any put together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
- The Relegation Battle: The scrap to avoid the drop probably concerns several clubs, with Wolverhampton Wanderers appearing especially vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the battle.
Elsewhere in Football
Away from the Premier League and FA Cup, today's schedule 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)
Around the Continent:
- 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 rages on. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the argument. On one hand, has Salah done enough to voice his frustration as a bona fide club icon? Or is boss Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to try to win games?
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.”
“Perhaps we should take a moment to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He's probably overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”
What next for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?
Sad News from the Championship
Two second-tier matches were called off on Saturday.
- The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken unwell. 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. Torrential rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – made the pitch unsuitable.
There is no word yet on when either game will be rescheduled.