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Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome on this weekend morning. We bring you your comprehensive matchday live center, highlighting today's key football action. England's top division offers intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a crucial Scottish encounter between the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside WSL games plus cup second round excitement completes the lineup. Feel free to send us your views telling us how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah commandeered the spotlight even though he not featuring in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Salah delivered an stunning attack on manager Arne Slot, claiming him of throwing him “under the bus” after being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive match. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the team's poor start to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian stated. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first time in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another major top-flight development was the Gunners' injury-time defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, combined with City's comfortable victory over the Black Cats, has left a incredibly close battle at the summit of the table.

Away from the English football, the Argentine maestro once again wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the league championship, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton host West Ham for an 2pm GMT kickoff. West Ham have shown flickers of life since the arrival of manager Nuno. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last year's FA Cup quarter-final. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth successive away win in the Premier League, having beaten three opponents to nil in their recent away fixtures.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition round two delivered lots of drama on Saturday. National League South side the Seagulls made history by reaching the third round for the first time ever.

Additional notable outcomes featured:

• Swindon thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport County on spot-kicks.
• Sixth tier Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Today'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

It appears a trio of separate mini-leagues forming in this season's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are seemingly contending for the championship.
2. The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group contains several big names, all with designs on the top five. Will any string together a consistent form to threaten the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to stay up likely concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Outside the Premier League and domestic cup, today's fixtures 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)

Around the Continent:

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

The Salah Debate Continues

The reaction from Mohamed Salah's comments rages on. There are two clear camps to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? Or is boss Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters seems divided:

“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. 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 currently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Will he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and move to the Saudi Pro League following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier matches were called off on Saturday.

• The match between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken ill. It was later announced the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn'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 unsuitable.

There is no confirmation on when either game will be replayed.