Premier League Build-up and FA Cup Round Two Developments and More
Introduction
Morning everyone on this weekend morning. We bring you your all-in-one football coverage hub, centering on today's major football fixtures. The Premier League presents intriguing contests between Brighton & West Ham and the Cottagers and the Eagles. On top of that, a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership encounter between Celtic and Hearts, alongside Women's Super League games plus FA Cup second round drama rounds out the lineup. Feel free to send us your views and let us know your plans for watching the action. Let's get into it.
Yesterday's Headlines
Mohamed Salah grabbed the spotlight even though he was absent in the Reds' thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He launched an astonishing critique on boss Arne Slot, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after omission from the first eleven for the third straight match. The player stated that he felt made a scapegoat for the team's poor start to the season.
“I can’t believe … I am sat on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egyptian stated. “The third time on the bench, perhaps for the first occasion in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”
The other major Premier League story saw Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Villa Park, sealed by Emi Buendía's winning strike. That result, coupled with City's comfortable win over Sunderland, makes for a incredibly close race at the summit of the table.
Outside English leagues, the Argentine maestro as ever wrote the script for his MLS side as they triumphed the MLS Cup, beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.
Today's Premier League Fixtures
Brighton welcome the Hammers for an afternoon kickoff. West Ham have displayed signs of improvement since the arrival of manager Nuno. An impressive midweek draw means he has presided over a run of only one loss in their last five.
Fulham against Crystal Palace is a repeat of last year's FA Cup quarter-final. Crystal Palace are eyeing a fourth successive victory on the road in the league, having beaten three opponents without conceding in their recent away fixtures.
The FA Cup Second Round
The FA Cup round two provided plenty of excitement on Saturday. National League South side Weston-super-Mare made history by advancing to the next round for the first time ever.
Other notable outcomes included:
- Swindon Town hammered Bolton Wanderers – a division above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge defeated Stockport on spot-kicks.
- Non-league Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham before finally 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
There seems to be a trio of separate mini-leagues forming in this season's Premier League.
- Championship Contenders: The current leading pack are seemingly contending for the championship.
- The Mid-Table Scramble: A incredibly congested group contains several big names, all with designs on the European places. Will any put together a winning run to threaten the top teams?
- The Fight for Survival: The scrap to avoid the drop probably involves Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and West Ham, with Wolves appearing especially in trouble. Teams like Brentford or Fulham could also be dragged into the battle.
Elsewhere in Football
Outside the English top flight 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)
Ongoing Discussion About Liverpool's Star
The fallout from the Liverpool forward's comments continues. Opinion is split into two clear camps to the argument. On one hand, has Salah done enough to speak out as a true Liverpool legend? Or is manager Arne Slot justified in doing whatever it takes to attempt to win matches?
Fan opinion appears split:
“United fan here. If I’m not mistaken, 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.”
“Perhaps we should take a moment to feel sorry for Mo Salah? He must have overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... A victim, Mo, you are not.”
The big question for Mo Salah, then? Many think his relationship with the club may now be burned. Will 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?
Sad News from the Championship
A pair of second-tier fixtures were called off on Saturday.
- The game between Charlton Athletic and Pompey at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after a supporter was taken unwell. It was later confirmed the supporter died 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 time this season at the ground – made the pitch unsuitable.
There is no confirmation on when either game will be rescheduled.