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Opening Thoughts

Good morning on this weekend day. This is your all-in-one matchday coverage hub, focusing on today's key football fixtures. The Premier League offers fascinating matches between the Seagulls and the Hammers and Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter between Celtic and Hearts, alongside Women's Super League action plus FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the lineup. Feel free to share your thoughts telling us your plans for watching today's games. Let's get into it.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah commandeered the headlines despite was absent in Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable attack on manager Arne Slot, accusing him of throwing him “under the bus” after being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive game. The player stated feeling made a scapegoat for the club's poor beginning to the campaign.

“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah stated. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another major top-flight development saw the Gunners' last-gasp defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emi Buendía's decisive strike. This outcome, combined with City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, makes for a very tight battle at the summit of the standings.

Outside the English leagues, the Argentine maestro once again played the hero for his MLS side as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver 3-1 in the showpiece.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton welcome West Ham in a afternoon start. The visitors have displayed signs of life under the arrival of head coach Nuno. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of only one loss in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last season's cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive victory on the road in the league, having defeated three opponents to nil in their recent travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition round two delivered lots of excitement on Saturday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare made history by reaching the next round for the first time ever.

Additional notable outcomes featured:

• Swindon Town thrashed Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Sixth tier Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham Town before finally suffering a 6-2 defeat.

Today's cup action 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 a trio of distinct mini-leagues developing in this campaign's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly contending for the top prize.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group contains several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Can any put together a winning run to challenge the top teams?
3. The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking especially vulnerable. Clubs such as others could also be dragged into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the English top flight and domestic cup, today's schedule include:

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)

European Football:

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

Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star

The fallout from Mohamed Salah's explosive interview rages on. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the argument. On one hand, has Salah done enough to speak out as a true club icon? Or is boss Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win matches?

Fan opinion appears split:

“United fan here. If memory serves, 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 take a moment to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Or will he take the pay day and move to the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

Two Championship matches were abandoned on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute 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 pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the pitch unplayable.

There is no confirmation on when these matches will be rescheduled.