Top Flight Preview and Football Association Cup Second Round Updates plus Additional Coverage

Introduction

Morning everyone to another weekend morning. We bring you your comprehensive football live center, highlighting the day's key football fixtures. England's top division presents intriguing contests between the Seagulls and the Hammers and Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside WSL games plus FA Cup round two drama completes the lineup. As always get in touch telling us how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah commandeered the spotlight even though he did not play in Liverpool's thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. Salah delivered an astonishing attack on manager the Dutch coach, claiming him of throwing him “to the wolves” after omission from the starting lineup for the third straight game. The player stated that he felt singled out for blame for the team's disappointing beginning to the season.

“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another significant top-flight story was Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, sealed by Emi Buendía's winning goal. This outcome, coupled with Manchester City's comfortable victory over Sunderland, has left a incredibly close battle at the top of the standings.

Outside the English football, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

The Seagulls host West Ham in a afternoon start. West Ham have shown flickers of life since the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive midweek draw means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last year's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth straight victory on the road in the league, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition second round delivered plenty of excitement on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls created a historic moment by advancing to the next round for the first time ever.

Additional notable outcomes included:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport on penalties.
• Non-league Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's FA Cup action features:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (early kickoff)
• 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 forming in this season's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly vying for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight section includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Can any string together a consistent form to threaten the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up likely involves several clubs, with Wolves looking particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the battle.

Other Matches Today

Outside the Premier League and FA Cup, today'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 reaction from the Liverpool forward's comments rages on. There are two distinct sides to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to voice his frustration as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Arne Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters seems divided:

“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Can we pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

What next for the Egyptian king, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he move on loan to a club abroad? Or will he take the pay day and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of second-tier matches were called off yesterday.

• The match between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the early stages after a supporter was taken ill. It was later confirmed the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – made the field unplayable.

At this time, there is no confirmation on when either game will be replayed.