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Opening Thoughts

Hello and welcome on this Sunday day. We bring you your all-in-one matchday live center, centering on the day's key soccer fixtures. England's top division offers intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL games plus cup second round excitement completes the schedule. Feel free to share your thoughts and let us know how you'll be following today's games. Let's get into it.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah grabbed the headlines despite not featuring in Liverpool's hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of throwing him “under the bus” after omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive game. He expressed that he felt singled out for blame for the team's poor start to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other significant Premier League development saw the Gunners' last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's winning goal. This outcome, combined with City's comfortable victory over Sunderland, has left a incredibly close battle at the top of the standings.

Away from English leagues, the Argentine maestro as ever played the hero for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

The Seagulls welcome West Ham in a 2pm GMT kickoff. West Ham have displayed signs of life under the appointment of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable 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 season's FA Cup quarter-final. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having beaten three opponents to nil in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition second round provided plenty of drama on Saturday. National League South side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time in their history.

Additional standout outcomes included:

• Swindon hammered Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport on penalties.
• Non-league Buxton led against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 loss.

Sunday's FA Cup schedule features:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (12.30pm GMT start)
• 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 distinct mini-leagues forming in this season's top flight.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are seemingly vying for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight group contains several big names, all with designs on the European places. Can any string together a consistent form to threaten the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to avoid the drop likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves looking particularly in trouble. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the Premier League and FA Cup, Sunday'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 fallout from Mohamed Salah's explosive interview continues. There are two distinct sides to the argument. On one hand, has Salah done enough to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? Or is boss Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Fan opinion seems split:

“United fan here. If memory serves, Salah was the players' 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 have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for Mo Salah, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and move to the Saudi Pro League after the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

Two Championship fixtures were called off on Saturday.

• The match between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the early stages after a fan was taken ill. It was later confirmed the supporter passed away in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off 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 either game will be replayed.