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Preamble

Hello and welcome on this weekend day. We bring you your comprehensive matchday live center, centering on today's major soccer fixtures. England's top division presents fascinating contests between Brighton & West Ham as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a crucial Scottish Premiership clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, coupled with WSL action plus cup second round drama rounds out the lineup. As always send us your views and let us know your plans for watching today's games. Let's get into it.

Yesterday's Headlines

Liverpool's Egyptian star grabbed the spotlight despite did not play in Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “under the bus” after omission from the starting lineup for the third straight match. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the team's poor start to the campaign.

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

Another significant Premier League development was Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, combined with City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, makes for a very tight race at the top of the standings.

Outside the English leagues, the Argentine maestro once again played the hero for his MLS side as they triumphed the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome the Hammers in a 2pm GMT start. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement under the arrival of head coach Nuno. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last year's cup quarter-final. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth successive victory on the road in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their latest away fixtures.

Cup Action Continues

The FA Cup round two provided lots of drama on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls created a historic moment by advancing to the next round for the first time ever.

Other notable outcomes included:

• Swindon hammered Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport County on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's FA Cup action includes:

• 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 three separate battlegroups forming in this season's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are apparently contending for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested group contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Can any string together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to avoid the drop probably concerns several clubs, with Wolves appearing especially vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.

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)

The Salah Debate Continues

The reaction from the Liverpool forward's explosive interview rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the debate. Has he done enough to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? Or is boss Arne Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to try to win games?

Views from supporters appears divided:

“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. Not the way to treat a club legend.”

“Can we pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He's probably forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Will he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

A pair of second-tier fixtures were called off yesterday.

• The game between Charlton and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the early stages after a supporter 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 playing surface at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the field unplayable.

There is no word yet on when these matches will be replayed.