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Preamble

Hello and welcome to another weekend day. This is your all-in-one matchday live center, centering on today's key soccer action. England's top division offers fascinating contests between Brighton & West Ham as well as the Cottagers and the Eagles. Additionally, a crucial Scottish clash sees the Hoops and the Jambos, alongside Women's Super League games and FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the lineup. As always share your thoughts and let us know how you'll be following today's games. Let's get into it.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah commandeered the spotlight despite did not play in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Leeds United. Salah delivered an stunning attack on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of throwing him “to the wolves” following omission from the starting lineup for the third consecutive match. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the team's poor start to the campaign.

“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian reportedly said. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

The other major top-flight development saw Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of by Emi Buendía's decisive goal. That result, combined with Manchester City's comfortable win over the Black Cats, has left a incredibly close race at the top of the table.

Away from English football, Lionel Messi once again played the hero for his MLS side as they triumphed the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the showpiece.

Sunday's Top-Flight Matches

Brighton host West Ham in a afternoon kickoff. West Ham have displayed signs of life since the appointment of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. An impressive midweek draw means he has presided over a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last season's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are aiming for a fourth straight victory on the road in the league, having defeated Burnley, Wolves and Liverpool without conceding in their latest away fixtures.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition second round delivered lots of drama on Saturday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time in their history.

Additional notable results featured:

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

Today's FA Cup action features:

• Slough Town v Macclesfield (12.30pm GMT kickoff)
• Boreham Wood v Newport County
• Gateshead v Walsall
• Blackpool v Carlisle United

The Premier League's Three Tiers

There seems to be a trio of distinct battlegroups forming in this season's top flight.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack 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. Can any put together a winning run to threaten the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The scrap to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves appearing particularly vulnerable. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be sucked into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the Premier League and FA Cup, today's schedule include:

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 reaction from Mohamed Salah'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 club icon? Or is boss Slot right in doing whatever it takes to try to win matches?

Views from supporters seems split:

“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. Not the way to treat a club legend.”

“Can we pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”

What next for the Egyptian king, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool may now be burned. Will he move on loan to a club abroad? Might he accept a lucrative offer and head for Saudi Arabia following the Africa Cup of Nations?

Sad News from the Championship

Two Championship fixtures were called off on Saturday.

• The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was paused in the early stages 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 playing surface at Ewood Park. Heavy rain – for the second time this season at the ground – made the pitch unplayable.

At this time, there is no word yet on when these matches will be rescheduled.