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Introduction

Hello and welcome to another weekend morning. We bring you your comprehensive football coverage center, highlighting today's major football action. The Premier League offers intriguing matches featuring Brighton & West Ham as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a crucial Scottish encounter between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with Women's Super League games and cup round two excitement rounds out the lineup. As always share your thoughts telling us your plans for watching the action. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah grabbed the spotlight even though he not featuring in the Reds' thrilling 3-3 draw at Elland Road. He launched an stunning attack on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “under the bus” after omission from the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the club's disappointing beginning to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah stated. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other major top-flight story was Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's decisive strike. That result, coupled with City's comfortable victory over the Black Cats, has left a incredibly close race at the top of the table.

Away from the English leagues, the Argentine maestro once again played the hero for Inter Miami as they lifted the league championship, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome West Ham for an afternoon start. West Ham have shown flickers of life under the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive point at Manchester United 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 last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth straight away win in the league, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

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

Additional notable outcomes included:

• Swindon hammered Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before eventually suffering a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday'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

There seems to be three distinct mini-leagues forming in this campaign's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly vying for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested section contains several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Can any put together a consistent form to challenge the top teams?
3. The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to stay up probably involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, 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 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)

Around the Continent:

• Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (8pm CET)
• Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim (4.30pm CET)

The Salah Debate Continues

The reaction from Mohamed Salah's comments rages on. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the argument. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to voice his frustration as a true Liverpool legend? On the other, is boss Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win matches?

Fan opinion appears divided:

“United fan here. If memory serves, Salah was the players' 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 overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and head for the Saudi Pro League following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Sad News from the Championship

Two second-tier fixtures were called off on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a fan was taken ill. It was later announced the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers'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 – rendered the pitch unplayable.

There is no word yet on when these matches will be rescheduled.