Top Flight Buildup alongside Football Association Cup Round Two Updates and Additional Coverage
Preamble
Good morning on this Sunday morning. This is your comprehensive matchday live center, centering on the day's key football action. The Premier League offers intriguing contests featuring Brighton & West Ham as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL games plus FA Cup second round excitement rounds out the schedule. Feel free to send us your views and let us know your plans for watching today's games. Let's get into it.
Yesterday's Headlines
Mohamed Salah grabbed the spotlight even though he did not play in the Reds' thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. He launched an astonishing attack on manager the Dutch coach, claiming him of throwing him “under the bus” following omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive game. The player stated that he felt made a scapegoat for the club's disappointing start to the campaign.
“It's unbelievable … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”
Another significant top-flight development saw Arsenal's injury-time loss at Aston Villa, sealed by Emi Buendía's decisive strike. That result, combined with City's comfortable win over Sunderland, has left a very tight battle at the summit of the standings.
Away from the English leagues, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.
Sunday's Top-Flight Matches
The Seagulls welcome the Hammers in a 2pm GMT start. The visitors have displayed signs of life under the arrival of head coach Nuno. 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 rematch of last season's FA Cup quarter-final. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth successive away win in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest travels.
The FA Cup Second Round
England's famous cup competition second round provided lots of excitement yesterday. National League South side the Seagulls made history by advancing to the next round for the first time ever.
Additional notable results included:
- Swindon hammered Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge defeated Stockport County on penalties.
- Sixth tier Buxton FC were ahead against Cheltenham Town before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.
Sunday's FA Cup schedule includes:
- 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 a trio of separate mini-leagues developing in this campaign's Premier League.
- The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently vying for the top prize.
- The Packed Middle: A incredibly congested group contains several big names, all with designs on the European places. Can any put together a consistent form to challenge the top teams?
- The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up probably concerns several clubs, with Wolves looking especially vulnerable. Clubs such as others could also be sucked into the battle.
Elsewhere in Football
Away from the Premier League and domestic cup, Sunday's fixtures 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)
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 comments rages on. There are two clear camps to the argument. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a true club icon? On the other, is boss Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to attempt to win games?
Fan opinion 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 chief scapegoat. This is no way to treat a club legend.”
“Perhaps we should pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”
What next for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Will he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for the Saudi Pro League after the Africa Cup of Nations?
Sad News from the Championship
A pair of Championship matches were abandoned yesterday.
- The match between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the 12th minute after a fan was taken ill. It was later announced 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. Torrential rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the pitch unplayable.
There is no word yet on when either game will be replayed.
