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Introduction

Morning everyone to another weekend day. This is your all-in-one matchday coverage center, highlighting today's key soccer action. England's top division offers fascinating matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash sees Celtic and Hearts, alongside WSL games plus cup second round excitement completes the lineup. We encourage get in touch and let us know your plans for watching the action. Here we go.

Yesterday's Headlines

Mohamed Salah stole the spotlight even though he did not play in the Reds' hectic six-goal thriller at Elland Road. He launched an remarkable critique on boss Arne Slot, claiming him of throwing him “under the bus” following omission from the first eleven for the third straight game. He expressed feeling singled out for blame for the club's poor beginning to the campaign.

“It's unbelievable … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah reportedly said. “This is the third match on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my professional life. I’m very, very disappointed.”

The other major top-flight story was Arsenal's injury-time loss at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano Buendía's decisive strike. This outcome, coupled with City's straightforward win over Sunderland, makes for a incredibly close battle at the top of the table.

Outside the English football, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton welcome West Ham in a afternoon kickoff. West Ham have shown flickers of improvement since the appointment of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive midweek draw means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last year's cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight victory on the road in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition round two delivered plenty of excitement yesterday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time ever.

Additional notable results featured:

• Swindon thrashed Bolton Wanderers – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United beat Stockport on spot-kicks.
• Non-league Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham Town before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's cup schedule includes:

• 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 Premier League.

1. The Title Race: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are seemingly contending for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight group contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Will any put together a consistent form to threaten the elite?
3. The Fight for Survival: The scrap to avoid the drop likely involves several clubs, with Wolves looking especially vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the battle.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the English top flight and FA Cup, today'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 reaction from the Liverpool forward's explosive interview rages on. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. Has he done enough to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is boss Arne Slot justified in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win games?

Views from supporters seems split:

“United fan here. 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 take a moment to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He's probably 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 relationship with the club may now be burned. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Might he take the pay day and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Sad News from the Championship

Two second-tier fixtures were abandoned yesterday.

• The game between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later announced the supporter died in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – made the field unsuitable.

There is no word yet on when these matches will be rescheduled.