Top Flight Buildup alongside Football Association Cup Second Round Updates and More
Preamble
Good morning on this Sunday day. We bring you your comprehensive football coverage center, focusing on today's key football fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing matches featuring the Seagulls and the Hammers and Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter between Celtic and Hearts, alongside WSL action and FA Cup round two drama rounds out the lineup. We encourage share your thoughts telling us your plans for watching the action. Here we go.
Yesterday's Headlines
Mohamed Salah stole the spotlight even though he not featuring in Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable critique on boss the Dutch coach, claiming him of throwing him “under the bus” following being left out the starting lineup for the third straight match. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the club's disappointing beginning to the season.
“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, I think for the first occasion in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”
Another major top-flight story saw Arsenal's injury-time loss at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emiliano BuendĂa's winning goal. This outcome, coupled with City's comfortable win over Sunderland, makes for a very tight race at the summit of the standings.
Outside the English leagues, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they triumphed the MLS Cup, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.
Today's Premier League Fixtures
The Seagulls host the Hammers for an afternoon kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of life under the arrival of manager Nuno EspĂrito Santo. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of only one loss in their last five.
Fulham versus Palace is a repeat of last year's cup last-eight tie. The Eagles are aiming for a fourth successive away win in the league, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their recent away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
The FA Cup round two provided plenty of drama yesterday. National League South side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the next round for the first time ever.
Additional notable outcomes included:
- Swindon thrashed Bolton – a division above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge defeated Stockport County on spot-kicks.
- Sixth tier Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 loss.
Sunday's FA Cup action features:
- 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 forming in this season's top flight.
- Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently contending for the championship.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested group includes several big names, all with designs on the top five. Will any put together a winning run to challenge the top teams?
- The Fight for Survival: The scrap to stay up likely involves several clubs, with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.
Elsewhere in Football
Outside the English top flight and domestic cup, Sunday's schedule 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)
Around the Continent:
- 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 debate. Has he earned the right to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? Or is manager Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win games?
Fan opinion appears split:
“As a Manchester United supporter. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”
“Perhaps we should pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”
The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Speculation suggests his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and move to the Saudi Pro League after the AFCON?
Matches Abandoned
A pair of second-tier fixtures were abandoned on Saturday.
- The match between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later announced the fan passed away in hospital.
- Blackburn'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 pitch unplayable.
There is no confirmation on when these matches will be rescheduled.