Premier League Buildup alongside Football Association Cup Second Round Latest News plus Additional Coverage
Introduction
Morning everyone to another Sunday day. This is your all-in-one football live center, highlighting today's major football action. England's top division offers intriguing contests between Brighton & West Ham as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter between the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside Women's Super League action and FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the lineup. We encourage send us your views telling us your plans for watching the action. Without further ado.
Yesterday's Headlines
Mohamed Salah grabbed the headlines despite not featuring in Liverpool's hectic six-goal thriller at Leeds United. He launched an astonishing critique on boss Arne Slot, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” after being left out the starting lineup for the third straight game. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the team's poor beginning to the season.
“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”
The other major Premier League development saw the Gunners' injury-time loss at Aston Villa, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's decisive strike. This outcome, coupled with Manchester City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, has left a incredibly close race at the summit of the standings.
Away from the English football, the Argentine maestro once again played the hero for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.
Sunday's Top-Flight Matches
The Seagulls welcome West Ham for an afternoon kickoff. West Ham have shown flickers of improvement under the appointment of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable midweek draw means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in their last five.
Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last season's FA Cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive victory on the road in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their recent away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
England's famous cup competition second round delivered lots of drama on Saturday. National League South side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.
Other notable outcomes included:
- Swindon hammered Bolton – a division above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge beat Stockport on spot-kicks.
- Non-league Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.
Today's FA Cup schedule features:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (early start)
- Boreham Wood v Newport County
- Gateshead v Walsall
- Blackpool v Carlisle United
The Premier League's Three Tiers
It appears three distinct mini-leagues forming in this season's top flight.
- Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly vying for the top prize.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested group contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the European places. Will any string together a consistent form to threaten the top teams?
- The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to avoid the drop probably concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers appearing especially in trouble. Teams like others could also be dragged into the battle.
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)
Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star
The reaction from the Liverpool forward's comments rages on. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the argument. Has he earned the right to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? Or is boss Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win games?
Views from supporters appears split:
“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 legend of the club.”
“Can we pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”
What next for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to another European club? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia after the Africa Cup of Nations?
Matches Abandoned
A pair of second-tier matches were abandoned on Saturday.
- The match between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken ill. It was later announced the fan 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 occasion this season at the ground – made the field unplayable.
There is no word yet on when either game will be replayed.
