Premier League Preview and FA Cup Round Two Latest News plus Additional Coverage

Opening Thoughts

Good morning to another weekend day. This is your all-in-one matchday coverage hub, highlighting the day's major football fixtures. England's top division presents fascinating matches featuring Brighton & West Ham and Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a crucial Scottish Premiership encounter between the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside WSL action plus cup round two excitement rounds out the schedule. Feel free to share your thoughts and let us know how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Liverpool's Egyptian star grabbed the headlines despite was absent in the Reds' thrilling six-goal thriller at Elland Road. Salah delivered an astonishing attack on manager the Dutch coach, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” after omission from the starting lineup for the third straight match. The player stated feeling 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 stated. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another significant Premier League development was Arsenal's last-gasp loss at Villa Park, sealed by Emi Buendía's decisive strike. That result, combined with City's comfortable win over the Black Cats, makes for a very tight battle at the top of the standings.

Away from English football, Lionel Messi as ever played the hero for his MLS side as they triumphed the league championship, defeating Vancouver 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton host West Ham in a afternoon start. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement under the arrival of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable midweek draw means he has presided over a run of only one loss in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last season's cup quarter-final. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth straight away win in the league, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

Cup Action Continues

The FA Cup round two delivered lots of drama on Saturday. Sixth-tier side the Seagulls made history by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.

Additional notable outcomes included:

• Swindon Town thrashed Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton led against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 loss.

Sunday's cup schedule includes:

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

Developing Mini-Leagues

It appears a trio of distinct battlegroups developing 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 incredibly congested group includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the European places. Can any string together a winning run to threaten the elite?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking especially vulnerable. Teams like others could also be dragged into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Outside 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)

Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star

The reaction from the Liverpool forward's comments rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. Has he done enough to speak out as a true club icon? On the other, is manager Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win matches?

Fan opinion seems split:

“As a Manchester United supporter. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. This is no way to treat a club legend.”

“Perhaps we should take a moment 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.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and move to Saudi Arabia after the AFCON?

Sad News from the Championship

A pair of Championship fixtures were called off on Saturday.

• The match between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken ill. It was later announced the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn'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 – made the field unsuitable.

At this time, there is no confirmation on when either game will be rescheduled.