Top Flight Buildup and Football Association Cup Round Two Latest News and More
Opening Thoughts
Hello and welcome on this Sunday day. This is your all-in-one matchday coverage center, highlighting the day's key football fixtures. England's top division presents intriguing contests featuring Brighton & West Ham as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish encounter sees Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL action and FA Cup round two drama rounds out the schedule. Feel free to share your thoughts telling us how you'll be following today's games. Let's get into it.
Yesterday's Headlines
Mohamed Salah grabbed the spotlight despite was absent in Liverpool's hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. He launched an remarkable critique on boss the Dutch coach, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive game. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the club's poor start to the campaign.
“I can’t believe … I am sat 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 am extremely disappointed.”
Another major top-flight story saw the Gunners' injury-time loss at Villa Park, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning goal. That result, coupled with Manchester City's comfortable win over Sunderland, has left a very tight battle at the summit of the table.
Away from the English leagues, the Argentine maestro 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 host the Hammers in a 2pm GMT kickoff. The visitors have shown flickers of improvement since the appointment of head coach Nuno. An impressive midweek draw means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in five games.
Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last year's FA Cup last-eight tie. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight victory on the road in the Premier League, having beaten Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool to nil in their latest away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
England's famous cup competition second round delivered lots of excitement yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare made history by reaching the third round for the first time ever.
Other notable outcomes featured:
- Swindon Town hammered Bolton – a division above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge United beat Stockport County on spot-kicks.
- Non-league Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham Town before eventually suffering a 6-2 loss.
Sunday's cup action includes:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (12.30pm GMT start)
- Boreham Wood v Newport County
- Gateshead v Walsall
- Blackpool v Carlisle United
Developing Mini-Leagues
There seems to be a trio of separate battlegroups forming in this season's Premier League.
- Championship Contenders: Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are apparently contending for the championship.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A very tight section contains Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United, all with designs on the top five. Can any string together a consistent form to challenge the elite?
- The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to avoid the drop likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolverhampton Wanderers appearing especially vulnerable. Clubs such as others could also be dragged into the battle.
Elsewhere in Football
Away from the Premier League and domestic cup, Sunday'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)
Around the Continent:
- Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (8pm CET)
- Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim (4.30pm CET)
The Salah Debate Continues
The fallout from Mohamed Salah's comments continues. There are two clear camps to the argument. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is boss Slot right in doing what he believes is necessary to try to win games?
Fan opinion appears split:
“United fan here. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”
“Can we pause to feel sorry 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 relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he move on loan to a club abroad? Or will he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?
Matches Abandoned
A pair of second-tier matches were called off on Saturday.
- The match between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken ill. It was later confirmed the fan passed away 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 unplayable.
At this time, there is no word yet on when these matches will be replayed.
