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At the start of the season, not many would have predicted that Liverpool would be the only English club left standing in the Champions League.

As it turns out, Jurgen Klopp’s side are the only Premier League outfit that have made it into the semi-finals of the elite competition.

The Merseyside outfit executed a 5-1 aggregate victory over Manchester City, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino getting on the scoresheet, while man of the moment Mohamed Salah netted twice.

The quarter-finals threw up some surprises as Barcelona relinquished a 4-1 lead and were knocked out by Roma.

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool fans took the opportunity to make fun of Philippe Coutinho, who left the Reds to join Barca in January.

On Wednesday night, Real Madrid were given a scare as Juventus drew level on aggregate 3-3 at the Bernabeu, but a late penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo ensured that Los Blancos progressed.

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The Reds could face either Madrid, Roma or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, and former England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce believes that Liverpool have the edge.

During Sky Sports’ The Debate, Pearce said:

“I think out of the quarter-finals they looked like the most impressive team heading into the semi-finals. I personally would put them in near enough as favourites from what I’ve seen over the last couple of nights in regards to the opposition they are up against.”

From an outsiders point of view West Ham United appear to be having an extremely good season.

The Hammers sit 9th in the Premier League and in December fans were dreaming of the possibility of a Champions League or Europa League place next season. Even though they have now slipped to mid-table, they seem to have overachieved, so what on earth could be wrong?

Last week West Ham’s Vice Chairwoman, Karren Brady, was reported to have said she was unhappy with Hammers boss, Sam Allardyce saying that the club are under-achieving and if things did not improve he could be facing the sack.

Talking in her column for the Sun newspaper she wrote:

“Someone says in the press today that we flattered to deceive up to Christmas – but I 100 per cent disagree. The fact is that West Ham are underachieving and it is Sam Allardyce’s task to identify the reason and rectify it. He would wish it no other way.”

So is Brady right to be concerned about the slip in form or should she be happy with where they sit in the League?

The team started really well but they do not appear to be finishing well. The Hammers are on a dismal run of form which has seen them fall from European contention to mid-table in the space of two months. If the League table showed current form they would sit in 15th only 2 points above the relegation zone. Before beating struggling Sunderland 1-0 last weekend, the Hammers went eight games without a win.

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Things have been getting tougher for Allardyce as people involved in the club got frustrated that the high bar he set could not be maintained. They expected that bar to remain constant throughout the season but the standard has started to slip. Allardyce’s contract is up at the end of the season and he was obviously hoping for it to be extended but talks haven’t even begun towards a new deal.

West Ham have been growing from strength to strength since they were promoted in 2012. After finishing 13th last season, the club was hoping to carry on improving – and they have! This season has seen them beat Manchester City as part of a 100% unbeaten October record and they have achieved some great results playing attractive football. Sam Allardyce has really made his side work and while their form has slipped it is important to remember this is only their third season back in the Premier League.

What we see at West Ham is what we see most seasons in the Premier League: they have been found out. Other teams didn’t know how to play against them during the first half the season. West Ham could offer up a surprise. But now that teams know their style they can defend against it.

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I think Brady needs to remember where West Ham came from, and while it is important to dream and aim for the highest possible outcome, it is also important to be a little more grounded.

I think it would take a while to adjust if Sam Allardyce was no longer in charge. In the last few years he has made that job his own and what he is doing is clearly working. Every year they have gone one step better. Perfection takes time and they are getting closer every year.

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It was always going to be an eventful game wasn’t it?

Not only was Millwall’s game against Bolton their first ever visit to the Reebok Stadium, it saw Marvin Sordell play his first game against the Lions since his claims of racism at the Den.

Since that game it was found that the claims were unjustified, it came out that a 13 year old was banned by calling Sordell a fish and saying he looked like the Disney character “Nemo”.

The club in my view did not stand up for the 13 year old, and express how ridiculous it was that he was being punished for what was described as “verbal abuse”, which happens on any given football ground in England. So this was a chance for the ‘Wall fans to support him in a way. This was done with inflatable Nemo’s and chants of “Marvin Sordell, you look like a fish” and “Nemo Nemo” but Bolton fans saying this was racist once again, the world has gone mad!

Back to matters on the pitch as the Lions picked up a valuable point with a 1-1 draw at the Reebok.

The game started with the hosts on the front foot but the first chance came after Zat Knight gave away a penalty, and this was calmly put away by Andy Keogh, chipping it into the middle of the goal, who needs Pirlo?

Bolton piled on the pressure after that and after going close through Kevin Davies and David N’Gog, they were handed a lifeline after Danny Shittu gave away a needless penalty which was put away by Keith Andrews, 1-1 at half time.

The 2nd half had few clear cut chances, as it seemed both teams were happy with a point. The closest Millwall came to a goal was through Dany N’Guessan, if he goes to head it, he gets a touch, but instead he slides in and misses it.

Bolton nearly stole the three points at the end as a Kevin Davies header looked to be nestling in the net, but this was somehow headed clear by “The Goose” N’Guessan. So the points were shared as the Lions stay 7th.

I’m happy with this result, if you would’ve said at the start of the season we would take four points off of Bolton I’d be over the moon; they were one of the pre-season favourites for the league of course.

But this game did highlight what we really need, a striker. N’Guessan tries his best but is most likely not Championship level, but Jackett must see something that many don’t. Even the bench showed what Millwall compete against in this division; we had Henderson and John Marquis on the bench. Compare this to the Bolton bench…

Bolton had Arsenal loanee Benik Afobe on the bench and the also a certain £3 million pound Marvin Sordell.

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Yes you did read that right; Marvin Sordell cost £3million.

I fully trust KJ to get the players in needed to keep us up in the higher part of the table, but it does seem now that any striker that he signs was nowhere near his first or second choice….

COYL

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Toni Kroos has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid in recent months and Manchester United are one of the interested parties.

Jose Mourinho reportedly faces a battle with old adversary Pep Guardiola in the race to sign the 28-year-old midfielder, who is valued at £72m by Transfermarkt.

If the German did make the move to Old Trafford, it would be likely that he would slot into a 4-3-3 formation alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, adding the balance between midfield and attack that has been lacking under Mourinho.

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Yet, after another dominant performance as Madrid swept aside last season’s finalists Juventus 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash last night, it was clear that he could well put Pogba in the shade if he made the move to Old Trafford.

Under the most intense of pressure, he had 107 touches – the most of any Madrid player – and ran the game from the deep playmaker role. Pogba is yet to do similar in a United shirt, and there is no doubt that is what he has been brought in to do.

That included 98 passes, with 96 per cent pass accuracy as he yet again proved his ability to dominate proceedings in the most refined company.

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Two key passes and four tackles shows that he is making an impact at both ends as well; he is not just a playmaker who doesn’t impact play.

Even at 28, he is the real deal and he should show Pogba that he is on the next level to him if he arrived at Old Trafford.

After his goal-scoring exploits against a luckless Hull City side this weekend, Sammy Ameobi may have just found himself a permanent place within Newcastle United’s folklore.

The brother of former Tyneside ‘legend’ Shola Ameobi purposefully took the ball on the edge of the Tigers’ box, made use of the space given to him by Hull’s seemingly unconcerned defence, and sent a rocket of a shot straight into the back of Allan McGregor’s net.

It was simply a great goal that many thought the England U21 international previously wasn’t capable of. Newcastle United fans may well now look to Ameobi as the potential provider for similar feats in the future however.

Now that the 22-year-old attacker seemingly has the attention of the Premier League after his fine finish on the weekend, does Sammy Ameobi have what it takes to really solidify himself within this current Newcastle set-up, or will this fine goal already be the pinnacle of what could be no more than a flash-in-the-pan career?

Whilst the wide-man’s time with the Magpies has so far been pretty uneventful on the whole, as the brother of Tyneside favourite in Shola, a loyal striker who amassed over 300 appearances for Newcastle, Sammy has had that bit more time and flexibility to work with over his counterparts in a similar position.

The Newcastle no.28 has made it through the ranks at St. James’ as a completely different player to his older brother, however. Sammy may be of a similar height to Shola, but his lean build and quick feet make him a different prospect all together. Although the execution of his play has often left a lot to be desired, the latest Ameobi has built his game around daring flair and quick pace on the break. The exciting attacking midfielder loves to take on defenders, put his skills on show, and simply hope for the best.

As Shola Ameobi had several key flaws to his game however, it comes as no surprise that Sammy’s style isn’t short of a few problems either. Yes, the 22-year-old loves to challenge the opposition with all manner of skills, flicks and deft passes, but the ultimate result of Ameobi’s choices often involve giving possession away, missing an easy pass, or simply sending the ball out of play when it should have been kept on. Sammy is just as likely to skill himself up as he is to beat the opposition, and as such unreliability hardly has a place within any Premier League side, should Newcastle really see him as a long-term prospect?

Perhaps that remains in question for now, but after a few seasons of top-flight experience under young Sammy Ameobi’s belt, such problems may well be ironed out, leaving only skill and confidence in their place. Newcastle are a side who have unfortunately seen their better stars move on in recent years, so in order to maintain a degree of loyalty between the club and its players, perhaps the Ameobi legacy really should continue down at St. James’.

If more goals like his one against Hull are on the cards however, Sammy Ameobi might just become a deserving all-time cult figure with the Magpies for many seasons to come.

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Everton boss David Moyes has claimed that he will wait until the final day of the January transfer window to make any signings.

The Toffees have been able to hold on to their key players this month and are set to add at least one more player to their ranks on Thursday, just before the deadline closes.

Moyes has a history of making late window deals and has had success with the likes of Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar on deadline days.

The long serving Goodison Park boss is hopeful that with one or two additions his squad can break into the top four this season ahead of the likes of Arsenal and bitter rivals Liverpool.

It is well documented that Moyes has to work on a tough budget at Everton and the relationship between him and the chairman in key to enable the funds are spent wisely and only if necessary.

“We’ve tended to be Christmas Eve shoppers, so hold on to your hat,” Moyes told the Daily Post.

“Myself and the chairman have said there was a little bit of money we could do some business with.

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“That hasn’t changed so it makes it harder to get the level of player you might be looking for.”

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Newcastle United didn’t have any English Premier League action to contend with at the weekend but have had the opportunity to go on a four-day training camp to Spain.

On the final day they faced Belgian side Royal Antwerp in friendly action, drawing 1-1 in a match that was split into three 45 minute periods.

For Rafa Benitez it’s all about preparing his side for the final stretch of the league season, with the Magpies still not completely safe from relegation back down into the Championship.

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However, the friendly was also a chance to have a look at some youngsters in a first team setting and one teenager that caught supporters’ eyes was Victor Fernandez.

The 19-year-old winger played in the last 45 minute segment of the match and impressed with some skills and ball control, leaving fans excited about his future potential at St James’ Park.

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They took to Twitter to share their thoughts…

As reported in this morning’s edition of the Daily Mail, Liverpool star Raheem Sterling has picked up the prestigious European Golden Boy award for 2014.

The individual accolade, first introduced  by Italian Newspaper Tuttosport back in 2003, is awarded each year to the continent’s most impressive player under the age of 21, with the decision process including a lengthy shortlist and a voting system involving 30 independent publications. Previous winners include Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero.

The attacking midfielder earned the award for his vital role in Liverpool’s Premier League title bid last season and emergence at the heart of the England national team since the turn of the year, making him the first British winner since Wayne Rooney in 2004

Stelling told Liverpool’s official website this morning; ” It’s a great achievement to win such an award, It’s a really happy feeling for me and my family, of course.

“Something I’ve always wanted to do is to work hard playing football and try to be recognised. I’m really grateful that people have shown me this recognition.

“It’s down to hard work. I’m really happy that people are recognising that I’m trying to work hard and do my best for this football club. I’m really grateful for this award.

There’s always room for improvement. At this moment in time, I should have a few more goals, but I’ve not taken some of my chances. But I’m young and learning all the time.

“This award just shows that hard work gets you where you want to be, and that I’m on the right track for where I want to be in my career. Hopefully I can just keep working hard and try to take my game to the next level.”

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Liverpool take on Arsenal at Anfield tomorrow afternoon, with the 20 year-old expected to feature as an unorthodox centre-forward.

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On Day 16 of our Football Advent Calendar we’re trying to bring some cheer to Bolton Wanderers fans, who have suffered a pretty torrid time of late, but giving away a signed Bolton shirt from the 2011/12 season.

Unfortunately the 2011/12 Premier League season was not one to remember for Bolton fans, as the Trotters finished 18th and thus Owen Coyle’s men were relegated from the top flight.

Now under the stewardship of former Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman, Bolton find themselves in the bottom half of the Championship and hence could do with some Christmas cheer!

Fancy winning a signed Bolton shirt?

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To be in with a chance of winning click below to FOLLOW FootballFanCast.com on Google +

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The winner will be announced tomorrow, when we will also be unveiling our prize for Day 17. Don’t forget to come back to FootballFanCast.com then!

No matter what allegiance, when a footballer suffers a career-threatening injury, there is nothing but sympathy.

In January, Everton midfielder James McCarthy broke his leg in two places during a challenge with West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon.

The timeline of recovery is a lengthy one in these cases, and all the 27-year-old will be hoping is that he regains form when he eventually returns to competitive action.

McCarthy is no stranger to injuries having struggled with hamstring problems before, and this season he has only made six appearances in all competitions.

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Everton have had a difficult season with plenty of inconsistency, and at the moment the fans are losing faith with manager Sam Allardyce.

There was some positivity at the weekend, though, as the Merseyside outfit ended a run of two straight defeats by overcoming Brighton at Goodison Park.

Another boost for the club was provided by McCarthy when he took to social media to provide an update on his injury.

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In a post on Instagram, the Republic of Ireland international claimed that he is taking steps towards returning to fitness.

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