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Introduction

Morning everyone on this weekend day. This is your all-in-one matchday live hub, focusing on today's key soccer fixtures. The Premier League offers fascinating contests featuring Brighton & West Ham as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash between the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside WSL games plus FA Cup round two excitement completes the lineup. Feel free to get in touch telling us your plans for watching today's games. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah commandeered the headlines even though he was absent in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of throwing him “under the bus” following being left out the first eleven for the third consecutive game. The player stated feeling made a scapegoat for the team's disappointing beginning to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … 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 career. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other major Premier League story was the Gunners' last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. That result, coupled with City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, has left a very tight race at the top of the table.

Outside English football, the Argentine maestro once again played the hero for Inter Miami as they triumphed the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

The Seagulls host West Ham for an 2pm GMT start. West Ham have displayed signs of improvement under the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive midweek draw means he has overseen a run of only one loss in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last year's cup quarter-final. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the league, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition round two provided plenty of drama on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls made history by advancing to the third round for the first time in their history.

Other standout results featured:

• Swindon Town hammered Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport on penalties.
• Non-league Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham Town before finally suffering a 6-2 loss.

Today's cup action features:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (early kickoff)
• Boreham Wood v Newport County
• Gateshead v Walsall
• Blackpool v Carlisle United

The Premier League's Three Tiers

There seems to be a trio of separate battlegroups developing in this season's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are apparently vying for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested section includes several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Can any string together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: 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 sucked into the battle.

Other Matches Today

Away from the English top flight and domestic cup, today'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)

European Football:

• 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 comments rages on. There are two distinct sides to the argument. Has he earned the right to speak out as a true club icon? On the other, is boss Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters seems divided:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, 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 must have overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will he seek a loan to another European club? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and move to the Saudi Pro League following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

Two second-tier matches were called off yesterday.

• The match between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken ill. It was later confirmed the supporter passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – made the pitch unplayable.

There is no word yet on when either game will be replayed.