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Opening Thoughts

Good morning to another Sunday morning. This is your comprehensive matchday live hub, highlighting the day's major soccer action. England's top division presents intriguing matches between Brighton & West Ham as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a crucial Scottish Premiership encounter between the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside WSL games and FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the lineup. As always get in touch telling us how you'll be following today's games. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah commandeered the spotlight even though he was absent in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. He launched an stunning critique on manager Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive game. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the team's poor beginning to the season.

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

The other major Premier League story was the Gunners' injury-time defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emi Buendía's decisive strike. That result, combined with City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close race at the summit of the standings.

Away from English leagues, Lionel Messi once again wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton host West Ham for an 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the arrival of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last season's FA Cup last-eight tie. 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 away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition second round delivered plenty of excitement on Saturday. National League South side the Seagulls made history by advancing to the third round for the first time ever.

Other standout outcomes included:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge beat Stockport County on penalties.
• Non-league Buxton led against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's 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 campaign's top flight.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are apparently contending for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested section includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the top five. Will any put together a winning run to challenge the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up probably concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves looking especially vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Outside the Premier League and domestic cup, Sunday'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 explosive interview rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to voice his frustration as a bona fide Liverpool legend? Or is manager Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters appears split:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. Not the way to treat a club legend.”

“Perhaps we should pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will he move on loan to another European club? Might he take the pay day and move to Saudi Arabia following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

A pair of second-tier matches were called off on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later confirmed the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

At this time, there is no word yet on when either game will be rescheduled.