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Introduction

Hello and welcome on this weekend morning. This is your comprehensive football coverage hub, focusing on the day's major football fixtures. England's top division presents fascinating matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter sees Celtic and Hearts, alongside Women's Super League games and cup round two excitement rounds out the schedule. We encourage send us your views telling us how you'll be following today's games. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Liverpool's Egyptian star stole the headlines despite did not play in Liverpool's hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an stunning critique on boss Arne Slot, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” following omission from the first eleven for the third straight game. The player stated feeling made a scapegoat for the club's poor beginning to the season.

“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my career. I’m very, very disappointed.”

The other significant top-flight development saw Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Aston Villa, 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 standings.

Outside the English football, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they lifted the league championship, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton welcome the Hammers for an afternoon kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement under the arrival of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive midweek draw means he has overseen a run of only one loss in five games.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last year's cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth successive victory on the road in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition round two provided lots of drama yesterday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls made history by reaching the next round for the first time ever.

Other notable outcomes included:

• Swindon hammered Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge beat Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Sixth tier Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's FA Cup action includes:

• 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

It appears three separate mini-leagues developing in this season's top flight.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are seemingly contending for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested section contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with aspirations for the top five. Can any put together a winning run to threaten the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking especially in trouble. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the Premier League 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 fallout from the Liverpool forward's explosive interview continues. There are two clear camps to the argument. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a bona fide club icon? Or is boss Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win matches?

Fan opinion appears split:

“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. This is no way to treat a club legend.”

“Can we pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He's probably overlooked that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Could he move on loan to another European club? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

A pair of Championship matches were called off on Saturday.

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

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