Top Flight Build-up and Football Association Cup Second Round Latest News and More
Opening Thoughts
Hello and welcome to another Sunday day. This is your comprehensive football live center, focusing on today's key football fixtures. The Premier League presents fascinating contests between Brighton & West Ham and Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with Women's Super League action plus cup round two excitement completes the lineup. As always send us your views telling us your plans for watching the action. Without further ado.
Yesterday's Headlines
Mohamed Salah stole the spotlight even though he not featuring in Liverpool's thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable attack on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “under the bus” after being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive game. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the team's disappointing start to the season.
“It's unbelievable … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed.”
The other significant Premier League development saw the Gunners' injury-time loss at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. This outcome, coupled with City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, makes for a incredibly close battle at the summit of the standings.
Away from the English leagues, Lionel Messi once again wrote the script for Inter Miami as they lifted the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.
Sunday's Top-Flight Matches
The Seagulls host the Hammers for an 2pm GMT start. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement since the appointment of manager Nuno. An impressive midweek draw means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in five games.
Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents to nil in their recent away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
England's famous cup competition second round delivered lots of drama yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by advancing to the third round for the first time ever.
Additional standout results included:
- Swindon Town thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge defeated Stockport on penalties.
- Non-league Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham before finally suffering a 6-2 loss.
Today's FA Cup schedule features:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (12.30pm GMT start)
- Boreham Wood v Newport County
- Gateshead v Walsall
- Blackpool v Carlisle United
Developing Mini-Leagues
There seems to be a trio of separate mini-leagues forming in this season's Premier League.
- The Title Race: The current leading pack are seemingly vying for the championship.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight section includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the European places. Will any string together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
- The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up probably involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves looking particularly in trouble. Teams like others could also be sucked into the fight.
Elsewhere in Football
Outside the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's fixtures 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)
The Salah Debate Continues
The reaction from Mohamed Salah's explosive interview rages on. There are two distinct sides to the argument. Has he earned the right to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win games?
Views from supporters appears divided:
“United fan here. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”
“Perhaps we should pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”
What next for Mo Salah, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Might he accept a lucrative offer and move to Saudi Arabia after the Africa Cup of Nations?
Matches Abandoned
A pair of Championship fixtures were called off yesterday.
- The match between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken ill. It was later announced the fan 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 occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.
At this time, there is no word yet on when these matches will be rescheduled.