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Preamble

Hello and welcome on this weekend day. We bring you your all-in-one matchday live hub, centering on today's key football fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing contests featuring Brighton & West Ham and the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with Women's Super League games plus FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the schedule. As always send us your views and let us know your plans for watching today's games. Without further ado.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah grabbed the spotlight despite was absent in Liverpool's thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. Salah delivered an stunning attack on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of throwing him “to the wolves” following being left out the first eleven for the third straight game. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the club's disappointing start to the season.

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

The other significant top-flight development saw Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's winning goal. This outcome, combined with Manchester City's straightforward win over Sunderland, makes for a incredibly close battle at the top of the table.

Outside the English football, the Argentine maestro as ever played the hero for his MLS side as they lifted the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton host the Hammers in a 2pm GMT start. The visitors have displayed signs of improvement since the appointment of head coach Nuno. An impressive midweek draw means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last season's cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive victory on the road in the Premier League, having beaten three opponents to nil in their recent away fixtures.

Cup Action Continues

The FA Cup round two delivered plenty of excitement yesterday. National League South side the Seagulls made history by advancing to the third round for the first time in their history.

Other standout results featured:

• Swindon thrashed Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton led against Cheltenham before eventually enduring a 6-2 loss.

Sunday's FA Cup schedule includes:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (12.30pm GMT start)
• Boreham Wood v Newport County
• Gateshead v Walsall
• Blackpool v Carlisle United

Developing Mini-Leagues

It appears three separate battlegroups developing in this campaign's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are seemingly contending for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight group includes several big names, all with designs on the top five. Will any string together a consistent form to threaten the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to avoid the drop probably concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Outside the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's fixtures feature:

Women's Top Flight: (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 the Liverpool forward's explosive interview continues. There are two clear camps to the debate. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a true Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters seems divided:

“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 legend of the club.”

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

The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to another European club? Might he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia after the Africa Cup of Nations?

Sad News from the Championship

Two second-tier matches were abandoned on Saturday.

• The match between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken ill. It was later confirmed the supporter passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers'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 – rendered the pitch unsuitable.

There is no word yet on when either game will be replayed.