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Introduction

Hello and welcome to another Sunday day. We bring you your comprehensive football coverage center, highlighting the day's major soccer action. The Premier League presents intriguing contests featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter between Celtic and Hearts, alongside Women's Super League action plus cup second round drama completes the lineup. We encourage share your thoughts and let us know your plans for watching the action. Let's get into it.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah grabbed the headlines despite did not play in the Reds' thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable critique on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of throwing him “to the wolves” after omission from the first eleven for the third straight match. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the club's poor beginning to the season.

“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first occasion in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other significant Premier League story was the Gunners' injury-time defeat at Villa Park, sealed by Emi Buendía's decisive goal. That result, coupled with City's comfortable win over the Black Cats, makes for a very tight battle at the summit of the table.

Outside English football, Lionel Messi once again wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

The Seagulls welcome West Ham in a 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have displayed signs of improvement since the appointment of head coach Nuno. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive victory on the road in the league, having beaten three opponents without conceding in their recent travels.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition round two delivered lots 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 notable results featured:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport County on penalties.
• Sixth tier Buxton FC led against Cheltenham Town before finally enduring a 6-2 loss.

Today's FA Cup schedule includes:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (early kickoff)
• Boreham Wood v Newport County
• Gateshead v Walsall
• Blackpool v Carlisle United

Developing Mini-Leagues

It appears three distinct battlegroups forming in this campaign's Premier League.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently contending 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 European places. Will any put together a consistent form to threaten the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to avoid the drop likely involves several clubs, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking especially in trouble. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the Premier League and FA Cup, today's schedule 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)

Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star

The fallout from the Liverpool forward's comments rages on. There are two clear camps to the argument. Has he earned the right to speak out as a true club icon? On the other, is manager Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to try to win matches?

Views from supporters appears split:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a club legend.”

“Perhaps we should pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Will he move on loan to another European club? Or will he take the pay day and move to Saudi Arabia after the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

A pair of Championship matches were called off yesterday.

• The game between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later announced the supporter 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 field unplayable.

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