Premier League Preview alongside FA Cup Round Two Latest News and Additional Coverage
Introduction
Good morning to another Sunday morning. This is your all-in-one football coverage center, centering on today's major soccer fixtures. The Premier League offers intriguing contests featuring Brighton & West Ham and Fulham & Crystal Palace. On top of that, a crucial Scottish Premiership encounter sees Celtic and Hearts, coupled with WSL games and cup round two drama completes the lineup. As always send us your views and let us know how you'll be following today's games. Here we go.
Yesterday's Headlines
Liverpool's Egyptian star stole the spotlight despite not featuring in the Reds' hectic 3-3 draw at Elland Road. He launched an astonishing attack on manager the Dutch coach, accusing him of tossing him “to the wolves” after omission from the first eleven for the third straight match. The player stated feeling singled out for blame for the club's disappointing start to the season.
“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah stated. “The third time on the bench, I think for the first occasion in my professional life. I am extremely disappointed.”
Another major Premier League story saw Arsenal's injury-time defeat at Villa Park, sealed by Emi BuendĂa's winning goal. This outcome, coupled with City's straightforward win over Sunderland, makes for a incredibly close battle at the summit of the table.
Away from English leagues, Lionel Messi as ever wrote the script for Inter Miami as they triumphed the league championship, beating Vancouver 3-1 in the showpiece.
Today's Premier League Fixtures
The Seagulls host West Ham for an 2pm GMT kickoff. West Ham have displayed signs of improvement since the appointment of head coach Nuno. An impressive point at Manchester United means he has overseen a run of only one loss in their last five.
Fulham versus Palace is a rematch of last year's cup quarter-final. The Eagles are eyeing a fourth straight victory on the road in the Premier League, having defeated three opponents without conceding in their recent travels.
The FA Cup Second Round
England's famous cup competition round two provided lots of excitement yesterday. Sixth-tier side Weston-super-Mare made history by reaching the next round for the first time in their history.
Additional standout outcomes featured:
- Swindon hammered Bolton – a division above them – 4-0.
- Cambridge defeated Stockport County on spot-kicks.
- Sixth tier Buxton were ahead against Cheltenham before eventually enduring a 6-2 defeat.
Today's FA Cup schedule features:
- Slough Town v Macclesfield (early kickoff)
- Boreham Wood v Newport County
- Gateshead v Walsall
- Blackpool v Carlisle United
Developing Mini-Leagues
There seems to be a trio of distinct battlegroups developing in this campaign's Premier League.
- The Title Race: The current leading pack are seemingly contending for the championship.
- The Packed Middle: A very tight section contains several big names, all with designs on the top five. Can any string together a winning run to challenge the top teams?
- The Relegation Battle: The scrap to stay up probably involves several clubs, with Wolves appearing especially in trouble. Clubs such as others could also be sucked into the battle.
Other Matches Today
Away from the Premier League and FA Cup, Sunday's schedule include:
Women's Super League (WSL): (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 the Liverpool forward's comments continues. There are two distinct sides to the debate. Has he earned the right to voice his frustration as a bona fide Liverpool legend? Or is boss Arne Slot right in doing whatever it takes to try to win matches?
Fan opinion seems divided:
“United fan here. If memory serves, Salah was the players' player of the year 6 months ago and now he’s the main target. This is no way to treat a legend of the club.”
“Perhaps we should pause to have sympathy for Mo Salah? He's probably overlooked that he is currently Liverpool's best-paid player... Someone hard done by, Mo, you are not.”
The big question for the Egyptian king, then? Many think his bridges at Liverpool 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 after the AFCON?
Sad News from the Championship
A pair of Championship matches were abandoned yesterday.
- The game between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth at The Valley was paused in the early stages after a fan was taken unwell. It was later confirmed the fan died in hospital.
- Blackburn Rovers's game against Sheffield Wednesday was also stopped and called off due to a waterlogged playing surface at Ewood Park. Torrential rain – for the second time this season at the ground – rendered the pitch unplayable.
There is no word yet on when these matches will be replayed.