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Introduction

Morning everyone to another Sunday day. We bring you your all-in-one football live hub, centering on today's major soccer action. England's top division presents fascinating contests between Brighton & West Ham and Fulham & Crystal Palace. Additionally, a crucial Scottish encounter sees Celtic and Hearts, coupled with Women's Super League games plus FA Cup round two excitement rounds out the schedule. As always send us your views telling us how you'll be following the action. Here we go.

Major Stories from Saturday

Mohamed Salah commandeered the spotlight even though he was absent in the Reds' thrilling six-goal thriller at Leeds United. Salah delivered an remarkable critique on manager the Dutch coach, claiming him of tossing him “under the bus” following omission from the first eleven for the third consecutive match. He expressed feeling made a scapegoat for the club's poor start to the season.

“It's unbelievable … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah stated. “The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I am extremely disappointed.”

Another significant Premier League story saw the Gunners' last-gasp defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by Emiliano Buendía's winning goal. This outcome, coupled with Manchester City's straightforward win over the Black Cats, has left a incredibly close race at the summit of the table.

Outside English football, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they lifted the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the showpiece.

Today's Premier League Fixtures

Brighton welcome the Hammers for an 2pm GMT kickoff. West Ham have displayed signs of life since the arrival of manager Nuno. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of just one defeat in their last five.

Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last year's cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth straight away win in the league, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their latest travels.

Cup Action Continues

England's famous cup competition round two provided plenty of excitement yesterday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare created a historic moment by reaching the third round for the first time in their history.

Other notable outcomes featured:

• Swindon hammered Bolton – a league above them – 4-0.
• Cambridge United defeated Stockport County on penalties.
• Non-league Buxton FC led against Cheltenham before finally enduring a 6-2 defeat.

Sunday's cup schedule 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 a trio of separate battlegroups developing in this campaign's top flight.

1. The Title Race: The current leading pack are seemingly vying for the top prize.
2. The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested section includes several big names, all with aspirations for the top five. Will any string together a consistent form to challenge the top teams?
3. The Relegation Battle: The dogfight to stay up likely involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves appearing particularly in trouble. Teams like others could also be sucked into the fight.

Elsewhere in Football

Away from the English top flight and domestic cup, today'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)

Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star

The fallout from the Liverpool forward's comments rages on. There are two distinct sides to the debate. On one hand, has Salah earned the right to speak out as a bona fide Liverpool legend? On the other, is boss Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win matches?

Views from supporters appears divided:

“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, Salah was PFA Player of the Year 6 months ago and now he’s chief scapegoat. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”

“Perhaps we should pause to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have forgotten that he is presently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”

What next for Mo Salah, then? Speculation suggests his relationship with the club may now be damaged. Could he move on loan to another European club? Might he accept a lucrative offer and head for the Saudi Pro League following the AFCON?

Matches Abandoned

A pair of second-tier fixtures were abandoned yesterday.

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

There is no word yet on when either game will be replayed.