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Opening Thoughts

Morning everyone to another Sunday morning. This is your comprehensive matchday live center, highlighting the day's major soccer fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing contests between the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish clash between Celtic and Hearts, alongside Women's Super League games plus cup second round excitement completes the lineup. Feel free to send us your views and let us know how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the headlines even though he not featuring in Liverpool's hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an astonishing critique on manager Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “under the bus” after being left out the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the team's disappointing beginning to the campaign.

“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian stated. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another significant Premier League development saw Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's decisive strike. This outcome, coupled with City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, makes for a very tight battle at the top of the standings.

Away from English football, the Argentine maestro once again played the hero for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

The Seagulls welcome the Hammers for an 2pm GMT start. West Ham have displayed signs of improvement under the appointment of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable 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 FA Cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth successive away win in the league, having beaten three opponents to nil in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

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

Additional notable outcomes included:

• Swindon Town thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge beat Stockport County on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 loss.

Today's cup schedule 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 a trio of separate mini-leagues developing in this campaign's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly contending for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested group includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Will any string together a consistent form to challenge the top teams?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up likely concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking particularly in trouble. Teams like others could also be sucked into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Outside the English top flight and FA 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 Mohamed Salah's explosive interview continues. There are two distinct sides to the argument. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to voice his frustration as a true club icon? On the other, is boss Arne Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win games?

Views from supporters seems split:

“United fan here. 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 legend of the club.”

“Perhaps we should pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Will he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia following the AFCON?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of second-tier fixtures were abandoned on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after a fan was taken ill. It was later confirmed the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – made the field unsuitable.

There is no confirmation on when these matches will be replayed.