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Opening Thoughts

Morning everyone on this Sunday day. We bring you your comprehensive football live hub, highlighting today's major soccer action. The Premier League offers fascinating contests featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL games plus FA Cup second round drama rounds out the lineup. As always share your thoughts and let us know how you'll be following today's games. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah stole the headlines even though he was absent in the Reds' hectic six-goal thriller at Elland Road. He launched an remarkable critique on boss the Dutch coach, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” after omission from the starting lineup for the third straight match. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the club's disappointing beginning to the season.

“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah stated. “This is the third match on the bench, I think for the first occasion in my career. I’m very, very disappointed.”

The other major Premier League story saw Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's decisive goal. This outcome, coupled with Manchester City's straightforward victory over the Black Cats, has left a very tight battle at the summit of the table.

Outside the English football, Lionel Messi once again played the hero for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton host the Hammers for an 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of life since the appointment of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable midweek draw means he has presided over a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth successive victory on the road in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent travels.

Cup Action Continues

The FA Cup second round provided lots of excitement yesterday. 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 thrashed Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United beat Stockport County on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton FC led against Cheltenham Town before finally suffering a 6-2 loss.

Today's cup action features:

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

The Premier League's Three Tiers

There seems to be three distinct mini-leagues forming in this season's top flight.

1. Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently contending for the championship.
2. The Packed Middle: A very tight group contains several big names, all with aspirations for the European places. Will any put together a winning run to threaten the top teams?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to avoid the drop likely concerns Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves appearing particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as others could also be sucked into the fight.

Other Matches Today

Away from the Premier League and domestic cup, today's fixtures feature:

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)

European Football:

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

The Salah Debate Continues

The fallout from Mohamed Salah's comments rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a true club icon? Or is boss Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters appears divided:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, 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 legend of the club.”

“Perhaps we should pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and move to the Saudi Pro League after the AFCON?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of Championship fixtures 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 unwell. 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 time this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

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