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Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome on this Sunday day. This is your all-in-one matchday coverage hub, focusing on the day's major soccer fixtures. England's top division presents intriguing matches between Brighton & West Ham as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter sees the Hoops and the Jambos, coupled with Women's Super League action and FA Cup round two drama rounds out the lineup. We encourage send us your views telling us how you'll be following today's games. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah commandeered the headlines despite not featuring in the Reds' thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable critique on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after being left out the first eleven for the third straight match. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the team's disappointing beginning to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed.”

The other major top-flight development was the Gunners' last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, combined with City's comfortable win over the Black Cats, has left a very tight race at the top of the table.

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

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome the Hammers in a afternoon start. West Ham have shown flickers of improvement since the appointment of manager Nuno. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth straight victory on the road in the Premier League, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent travels.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition round two delivered plenty of excitement yesterday. 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 thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport County on penalties.
• Sixth tier Buxton led against Cheltenham before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Today's FA Cup action features:

• 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 a trio of separate mini-leagues developing in this season'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 very tight group contains 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 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.

Other Matches Today

Away from the Premier League and domestic cup, today's schedule include:

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)

European Football:

• 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 explosive interview rages on. There are two clear camps to the argument. Has he done enough to voice his frustration as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is boss Arne Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win games?

Fan opinion seems divided:

“As a Manchester United supporter. 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's probably forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

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

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier matches were abandoned on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken unwell. It was later announced the supporter passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second time this season at the ground – made the field unsuitable.

There is no confirmation on when either game will be replayed.