Premier League Build-up alongside FA Cup Round Two Updates plus Additional Coverage
Introduction
Good morning on this weekend day. We bring you your all-in-one football coverage center, centering on today's key soccer action. The Premier League offers fascinating contests featuring Brighton & West Ham as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a crucial Scottish clash between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL action plus FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the schedule. As always send us your views telling us your plans for watching the action. Here we go.
Yesterday's Headlines
Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the headlines even though he not featuring in Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds United. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “under the bus” after omission from the first eleven for the third straight match. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the club's disappointing start to the campaign.
“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”
The other significant Premier League story was the Gunners' injury-time defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. That result, combined with City's comfortable win over Sunderland, has left a incredibly close battle at the top of the standings.
Outside the English leagues, Lionel Messi as ever played the hero for Inter Miami as they triumphed the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.
Sunday's Top-Flight Matches
Brighton host the Hammers for an 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the arrival of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in five games.
Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last year's FA Cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the league, having beaten three opponents to nil in their latest away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
The FA Cup second round provided lots of excitement yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare made history by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.
Other notable results included:
- Swindon Town thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge United beat Stockport County on penalties.
- Sixth tier Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.
Sunday's cup schedule features:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (early kickoff)
- Boreham Wood v Newport County
- Gateshead v Walsall
- Blackpool v Carlisle United
Developing Mini-Leagues
There seems to be three distinct battlegroups developing in this season's Premier League.
- The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently contending for the championship.
- The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group includes several big names, all with designs on the top five. Will any put together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
- The Relegation Battle: The scrap to stay up likely concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking especially vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the fight.
Elsewhere in Football
Outside the English top flight and domestic 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 the Liverpool forward's explosive interview continues. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to voice his frustration as a true club icon? Or is manager Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?
Fan opinion seems split:
“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, 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 take a moment to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He's probably forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning 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. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and move to Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?
Matches Abandoned
Two Championship matches were called off on Saturday.
- The match between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused 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 – rendered the field unplayable.
At this time, there is no confirmation on when either game will be rescheduled.
