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Preamble

Hello and welcome to another weekend day. We bring you your comprehensive matchday coverage center, highlighting the day's major soccer fixtures. The Premier League presents fascinating contests featuring Brighton & West Ham and the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a top-of-the-table Scottish clash between Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL action plus cup second round excitement rounds out the schedule. Feel free to send us your views telling us your plans for watching today's games. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Liverpool's Egyptian star stole the spotlight despite not featuring in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an remarkable attack on manager Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “under the bus” after omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive match. He expressed 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 reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, I think for the first occasion in my career. I’m very, very disappointed.”

The other major top-flight development was Arsenal's last-gasp defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's decisive strike. That result, combined with City's straightforward 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 Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton host the Hammers in a afternoon start. West Ham have displayed signs of life since the arrival of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. A creditable point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham against Crystal Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight away win in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents to nil in their latest away fixtures.

The FA Cup Second Round

England's famous cup competition second round delivered lots of excitement on Saturday. National League South side the Seagulls created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time ever.

Additional standout outcomes featured:

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

Today's FA Cup action features:

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

The Premier League's Three Tiers

It appears three separate mini-leagues developing in this campaign's Premier League.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are seemingly contending for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested section includes several big names, all with aspirations for the European places. Can any put together a winning run to threaten the top teams?
3. The Fight for Survival: The dogfight to stay up likely concerns several clubs, with Wolverhampton Wanderers appearing particularly vulnerable. Clubs such as others could also be dragged into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the Premier League and FA 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)

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. Opinion is split into two distinct sides to the argument. On one hand, has Salah done enough to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is manager Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to try to win games?

Views from supporters appears divided:

“United fan here. If memory serves, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. Not the way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Can we take a moment to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He's probably forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's highest ever earning player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

The big question for Mo Salah, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be damaged. Could he seek a loan to a club abroad? Or will he take the pay day and head for Saudi Arabia after the Africa Cup of Nations?

Matches Abandoned

Two Championship matches were abandoned on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton and Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the early stages after a fan was taken ill. It was later confirmed the fan died in hospital.
• Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also paused and abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second occasion this season at the ground – rendered the field unsuitable.

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