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Preamble

Good morning to another weekend morning. This is your all-in-one matchday live center, focusing on today's major football fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a crucial Scottish clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside Women's Super League games plus FA Cup round two drama rounds out the lineup. As always share your thoughts and let us know your plans for watching the action. Let's get into it.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah stole the headlines despite not featuring in Liverpool's hectic six-goal thriller at Leeds United. Salah delivered an stunning critique on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” following being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive game. He expressed that he felt made a scapegoat for the team's poor start to the season.

“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 professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other significant Premier League story was Arsenal's last-gasp loss at Villa Park, sealed by Emi Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, coupled with Manchester City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, has left a incredibly close battle at the summit of the table.

Outside English football, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton welcome West Ham in a afternoon start. West Ham have displayed signs of life under the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive point at Manchester United 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 eyeing a fourth straight away win in the league, having beaten three opponents without conceding in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

The FA Cup second round provided plenty of excitement on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls made history by reaching the next round for the first time ever.

Other notable outcomes included:

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

Today's 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 forming in this campaign's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently vying for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested section contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the European places. Can any put together a winning run to threaten the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to stay up likely involves several clubs, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking especially in trouble. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.

Other Matches Today

Outside the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's fixtures feature:

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)

European Football:

• Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (8pm CET)
• Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim (4.30pm CET)

The Salah Debate Continues

The fallout from the Liverpool forward's comments continues. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. On one hand, has Salah done enough to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters appears split:

“United fan here. 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 club legend.”

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

The big question for Mo Salah, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Could he move on loan to a club abroad? Or will he take the pay day and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Sad News from the Championship

Two Championship matches were abandoned yesterday.

• The match between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the early stages after a fan was taken unwell. It was later confirmed 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. Heavy rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

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