🔗 Share this article

Preamble

Hello and welcome on this weekend morning. We bring you your comprehensive football coverage center, focusing on today's major football action. The Premier League offers intriguing contests between the Seagulls and the Hammers and Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter between the Hoops and the Jambos, coupled with Women's Super League games plus FA Cup second round drama rounds out the lineup. We encourage get in touch telling us how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Liverpool's Egyptian star commandeered the spotlight even though he did not play in the Reds' thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable attack on manager the Dutch coach, claiming him of throwing him “to the wolves” after omission from the starting lineup for the third straight match. He expressed feeling singled out for blame for the club's poor beginning to the campaign.

“I can’t believe … 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 professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another significant top-flight development was the Gunners' injury-time loss at Villa Park, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning strike. This outcome, coupled with Manchester City's straightforward victory over Sunderland, has left a very tight race at the summit of the table.

Away from the 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.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

The Seagulls host the Hammers in a afternoon kickoff. West Ham have displayed signs of improvement since the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable midweek draw means he has overseen a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last season's FA Cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the league, having beaten three opponents without conceding in their recent travels.

The FA Cup Second Round

The FA Cup round two delivered plenty of excitement on Saturday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time ever.

Additional standout results featured:

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

Today's FA 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 three separate battlegroups developing in this campaign's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are seemingly vying for the championship.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight section includes several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Can any string together a consistent form to threaten the top teams?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to avoid the drop likely involves several clubs, with Wolves looking particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the English top flight and FA Cup, today's schedule include:

Women's Super League (WSL): (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 Mohamed Salah's comments continues. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a true Liverpool legend? Or is boss Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win games?

Views from supporters appears split:

“United fan here. If memory serves, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Can we pause to have sympathy 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? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he move on loan to another European club? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for the Saudi Pro League after the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

A pair of Championship fixtures were called off on Saturday.

• The match between Charlton and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken unwell. It was later announced the supporter died 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 field unplayable.

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