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    Carabao Cup semi-final draw labelled the ‘most obviously rigged ever’ by fans as Chelsea get Championship tie

    FANS moaned the Carabao Cup draw was fixed after Chelsea and Liverpool avoided each other in the semi-finals.The Reds thrashed West Ham 5-1 at Anfield to complete the final-four line-up.
    Jurgen Klopp had plenty to celebrate as Liverpool thrashed West Ham and got a favourable cup drawCredit: Getty
    Chelsea edged past Newcastle on penalties and will face Middlesbrough in the semi-finalsCredit: Alamy
    Chelsea and Fulham booked their places in the semis thanks to penalty shootout victories over Newcastle and Everton respectively on Tuesday while Middlesbrough saw off Port Vale.
    Father-and-son duo Harry and Jamie Redknapp conducted the draw live on Sky Sports after tonight’s game.
    And crucially the two big hitters avoided each other.
    Middlesbrough were pitted against Chelsea while Liverpool will take on Fulham.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    And petulant supporters took to social media, ridiculously suggesting the draw was “most obviously rigged” which it clearly was not.
    There was just a 33 per cent chance of Chelsea and Liverpool drawing each other – and the same likelihood of it being Mauricio Pochettino’s side who got the one remaining Championship side.
    Sky presenter Mark Chapman even joked that Middlesbrough and Fulham fans would not be happy.
    But one fuming supporter complained: “That was the most obviously rigged draw ever.”
    Most read in Football

    Another added: “Carabao Cup draw was fixed to get the big final. Middlesborough and Fulham never had a chance.”
    A third tweeted: “Come on Fulham and Boro upset the draw fix.”
    A fourth chipped in: “Surprise surprise Liverpool and Chelsea kept apart, that will please the sponsors. CORRUPT.”
    And a final user blasted: “I would have happily put £1,000 for that draw… so rigged for a Liverpool vs Chelsea final.”
    Should Chelsea and Liverpool progress as expected, that would set up a repeat of the 2022 Carabao Cup final.
    Following a 0-0 draw after extra-time, Kepa Arrizabalaga missed Chelsea’s 11th penalty before Caoimhin Kelleher scored to seal an 11-10 shootout win for the Reds.
    To make matters worse, Kepa – now at Real Madrid – had been subbed on in the 119th minute just to take part in the shootout. Yet Liverpool scored every kick against him.
    But Chelsea will hope they have a new goalkeeping hero now after Djordje Petrovic saved Matt Ritchie’s penalty to give them victory over Eddie Howe’s Magpies this week.
    Liverpool are going for a record-extending ninth success in the League Cup while the Blues have got their hands on the cup five times.
    Middlesbrough beat Bolton in the 2004 final for their only triumph but Fulham are into the semis for the very first time in the tournament’s history.
    The two-legged semi-finals will take place in the weeks beginning January 8 and January 22 ahead of the final at Wembley on February 25.
    Read more on The Sun
    Middlesbrough and Liverpool play at home first before Chelsea and Fulham host the second legs – with the two legs getting scrapped from next season as the EFL shakes up the competition.
    Manchester United are the holders, beating Newcastle to end their six-year goal drought in February.
    Fulham beat Everton on penalties to reach the Carabao Cup semis for the first timeCredit: Reuters
    Michael Carrick has led his Boro side to the final fourCredit: AFP
    Jamie and Harry Redknapp conducted the draw More

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    Carabao Cup semi-final draw LIVE: Chelsea and Liverpool separated as huge draw made – latest reaction

    LIVERPOOL and Chelsea could meet in a mouthwatering Carabao Cup final after the big semi-final draw was made.The Blues take on Championship Middlesbrough while Liverpool face Fulham in the two-legged ties.
    Then all eyes will be on Wembley for the February 25 final.
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    Follow ALL of the latest updates below..
    Previous winners
    Who will join the list of previous League Cup winners when the final takes place in February?

    22/23 – Manchester United
    21/22 – Liverpool
    20/21 – Manchester City
    19/20 – Manchester City
    18/19 – Manchester City
    17/18 – Manchester City
    16/17 – Manchester United
    15/16 – Manchester City
    14/15 – Chelsea
    13/14 – Manchester City

    Read more on the draw
    Read our article for some more information on the draw and how everyone earned their place in the semi-finals.

    When will the semi-finals be held?
    The first leg of the semi-final ties will be played week commencing 8 January, 2024, with second leg fixtures taking place week commencing 22 January, 2024.
    The final will then take place at Wembley on February 25, 2024.
    Chelsea fans delighted
    Chelsea fans will be pleased to hear they have been handed a draw against Middlesbrough.
    Boro have done superb to get to the semi-finals, but as the only team from outside the Premier League, the Blues will be seen as clear favourites for a slot a Wembley.
    Draw in full
    Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
    Liverpool vs Fulham
    Draw complete
    And just like that the draw is complete.
    Middlesbrough and Liverpool will play host in the first leg of the fixtures before Fulham and Chelsea return the favour for the second leg.
    SEMI-FINAL NUMBER TWO
    LIVERPOOL vs FULHAM
    SEMI-FINAL NUMBER ONE
    MIDDLESBROUGH vs CHELSEA
    Here we go!
    We’re finally about to get underway for the short but important draw for the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a delay.
    Father and son duo Harry and Jamie Redknapp are present to pull the names out of the pot!
    One last reminder
    Before the teams are pulled from the hat here is one last reminder of the four sides that have made it in to the the semi-finals and their ball numbers.

    Chelsea
    Fulham
    Middlesbrough
    Liverpool

    Middlesbrough’s run
    Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough side are the only team left in the tournament from outside of the Premier League.
    The Championship outfit have put together a splendid run to earn themselves a spot in the semi-finals.
    Boro have beaten Huddersfield, Bolton, Bradford City, Exeter and Port Vale so far.
    Who will they take on next?
    Credit: Alamy
    Not far off now
    The draw is set to take place at around 10:15pm.
    Follow all of the action and reaction here.
    LIVERPOOL ENTER THE DRAW
    Liverpool have beaten West Ham 5-1 to secure their place in the semi-final draw.
    The final list of teams in the pot are as follows:

    Fulham
    Chelsea
    Middlesbrough
    Liverpool

    Moments away
    We’re now just moments away from the draw with the Liverpool vs West Ham game heading into injury time.
    It looks as if Liverpool are in the hat, but who will they face?
    All but over
    Just when West Ham looked to have a glimmer of hope of making a comeback, Liverpool have punished them.
    The Merseyside outfit have added another two goals to make the score 5-1 and look like they will inevitably be joining the others in the semi-final draw this evening.
    Ball numbers
    The ball numbers for tonight’s draw are as follows…

    Chelsea
    Fulham
    Middlesbrough
    Liverpool or West Ham

    Credit: Getty
    Hope for the Hammers
    It could be too little too late, but West Ham have pulled one back at Anfield.
    Jarrod Bowen has made it 3-1 to try and force his team through to the next round, but there’s not long left for David Moyes’ side.
    GOAL – Liverpool cruising to the semi-finals
    It looks like Liverpool will almost certainly be joining Fulham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea in the Semi’s now.
    The Red have bagged a third through Cody Gakpo and now lead West Ham 3-0.
    It’s heartbreak for the Hammers with just over 15 minutes left to play at Anfield.
    How did the teams earn their spot in the semi’s?
    Fulham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea all booked their places in the semi finals last night.
    The two Premier League clubs needed penalties to secure their way in to the next round while Boro comfortably saw off Port Vale.

    Everton 1-1 Fulham (PEN 6-7 )
    Port Vale 0-3 Middlesbrough
    Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle (PEN 4-2)
    Liverpool vs West Ham (ongoing)

    Credit: Getty
    LIVERPOOL BAG ANOTHER
    Liverpool are now 2-0 up and edging closer to securing their spot in the draw!
    It’s Curtis Jones who has netted this time and the Reds look to be brushing aside West Ham at Anfield.
    Credit: Reuters
    Liverpool on track for the semi-finals
    As things stand it will be Liverpool that join the other three teams in the pot for the semi-final draw.
    The Reds currently lead West Ham 1-0 at Anfield thanks to a Dominik Szoboszlai goal.
    Who’s in the pot?
    All but one of the teams has been decided with just four sides heading in to the semi-final pot.
    The last team will be decided when we have a winner between Liverpool and West Ham tonight.

    Fulham
    Middlesbrough
    Chelsea
    Liverpool/West Ham

    CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW
    We are right round the corner from this year’s Carabao Cup semi-final draw as we eagerly await to see who will face who.
    The draw will take place after Liverpool’s clash with West Ham with the pair fighting it out for a place in the pot. More

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    Carabao Cup semi-final draw in full: Liverpool handed tough trip to West London as Chelsea look to make it to Wembley

    LIVERPOOL will play Fulham in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with Middlesbrough up against Chelsea.The first legs of the semis will take place in the week commencing January 8.
    Liverpool will play Fulham and Chelsea will play MiddlesbroughCredit: Getty
    The ties will be decided in the second leg in the week commencing January 22.
    Liverpool and Middlesbrough were both handed home draws for the first leg of their semi-finals.
    Chelsea will have to travel to Teeside before a home second leg at Stamford Bridge, while Fulham visit Anfield.
    It’s the last time the semi-finals will be decided over two legs – with the semis becoming one legged next season to reduce fixture congestion.
    Liverpool were the standout performers in the cup’s quarter-finals, producing a stunning 5-1 victory over West Ham this evening.
    Chelsea, meanwhile, needed penalties to make it past Newcastle on Tuesday evening.
    That was also the case for Fulham, who had to go the distance with Everton at Goodison Park to make it to the semis, winning their shoot-out 7-6.
    Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough are the only Championship team left in the competition, and will be looking to produce an upset over two legs.
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    Chelsea’s form this season has been patchy at best, but manager Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to win his first piece of silverware in England with The Blues.
    Liverpool will be overwhelming favourites for the trophy given their performances in the league this season, which could see them top at Christmas if they beat Arsenal on Saturday.
    Chelsea’s historic pedigree with silverware will have them favoured by some, but they’re only one point above Fulham in the Prem.
    Middlesbrough will be massive outsiders as the only Championship club remaining.
    But Michael Carrick will fancy a chance to show Man Utd what he can do at the highest level after being snubbed for the permanent Old Trafford job when he was caretaker.
    Both Chelsea and Liverpool will likely be grateful to have been kept apart, and will have their fingers crossed that the other will lose in their respective semi-final ties.
    Father and son duo Harry and Jamie Redknapp conducted the draw live on Sky Sports after analysing Liverpool’s rout of West Ham. More

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    Liverpool 5-1 West Ham LIVE SCORE: Jones on the double after Salah strike as Reds cruise into Carabao Cup semi-final

    LIVERPOOL have sailed into the Carabao Cup semi-final after thrashing West Ham 5-1.Curtis Jones was on the double as Jurgen Klopp’s much-changed Reds battered the Hammers.
    Sub Mo Salah also scored as Klopp looks ahead to the huge visit of Premier League leaders Arsenal this weekend.

    Result: Liverpool 5 West Ham 1
    Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Gomez, Quansah, Virgil, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Nunez, Gakpo
    West Ham XI: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Johnson, Alvarez, Soucek, Fornals, Kudus, Benrahma, Bowen
    Carabao Cup semi-final draw latest updates

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    Confidence sky-high for crunch clash
    Liverpool now head into their huge clash with Arsenal at Anfield on the weekend full of confidence.
    In their last two games, The Reds have had 63 shots, which is an insane stat.
    Mikel Arteta will know his side will certainly have their title credentials tested Saturday evening.
    Carabao Cup semi-final draw
    Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
    Liverpool vs Fulham
    Opportunity missed for West Ham
    With the chance to get into the last four of a domestic trophy, The Hammers really failed to turn up today.
    David Moyes rotated his side and they were left wanting.
    It will disappoint the manager as he would have seen this as a chance to cause an upset at Anfield this evening.
    Boss pleased with team performance
    After the disappointment of the draw on the weekend, you can guarantee that Jurgen Klopp set his players the challenge of proving their worth this evening.
    He will have wanted a response from them, to show everyone that the Man Utd result was just a bad day at the office.
    They listened to their manager’s thoughts and went out and put in a display against West Ham tonight.
    Credit: Getty
    Credit: AFP
    Reds book place in semi-finals
    Liverpool will now go into the draw for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, which will take place soon.
    The final four will consist of Jurgen Klopp’s side along with Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough.
    In the next round there will be two legs to be played.
    The Reds go into the draw as favourites to win the trophy with the bookies.
    Curtis brings the gifts to Anfield
    Liverpool-born Curtis Jones put in one of his best performances for the club in this quarter-final this evening.
    From start to finish, he put in a polished display and looked to get forward and score goals whenever the chance presented itself.
    He showed the wider footballing world why the manager rates him so highly.

    FT: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
    After that goalless draw with Man Utd, that will be just what the doctor ordered for Liverpool.
    Klopp’s side were dominant from start to finish.
    West Ham just could not handle them today.

    FT: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
    The referee brings the game to a close.
    It will be a long trip home for the West Ham fans.
    Liverpool have been dominant today and deserve their victory.
    Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
    90+2. Curtis Jones has been awarded man of the match today.
    The Reds pass the ball around, looking to create another opening.
    Salah tries to cross but it is deflected wide for a corner.
    Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
    90. This has been a great team performance by Liverpool.
    You cannot pick out a player who has not played well really.
    Nunez is shown a yellow card as he catches the West Ham defender in the face as he tries to flick the ball.
    We are going to have four minutes added.
    Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
    88. Liverpool do not seem done with this scoreline.
    They are continuing to pile forward, looking to punish the visitors every time they attack.
    David Moyes does not look happy with what he is seeing from his team.
    Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
    86. It seems crazy to think West Ham were back in this now.
    Curtis Jones weaves his way through The Hammers defence and slots the ball into the bottom corner.
    What a performance it has been by the local lad.
    Credit: Getty
    Goal – Curtis Jones (West Ham)
    Liverpool 4-1 West Ham
    84. As West Ham are attacking, Alexander-Arnold clears the ball to set Salah clear through on goal.
    He holds off the defenders and slots the ball past Areola.
    That puts the game to bed for Jurgen Klopp’s side now surely.
    Goal – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
    Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
    82. As Liverpool come forward, looking to find a goal to kill the game off, Nunez lets fly from outside the box.
    His shot rattles the inside of the post with Areola at full stretch.
    Somehow, Salah fails to knock the rebound into an empty net as it just goes wide.
    In all fairness, it did come at him rather sharply.
    Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
    80. Liverpool have brought Luis Diaz on for a run out.
    Another goal for the visitors and this could be a nervy finish.
    As we saw in yesterday’s ties, late goals have completely changed some of these quarter-final results.
    Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
    78. We may have a game on our hands after all.
    The ball is played up to Bowen, he squares Quansah up and cuts onto his right foot.
    Bowen unleashes a bending right-footed shot into the top corner.
    Great strike.
    Goal – Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
    Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
    76. The Reds force another corner.
    West Ham win the initial header but fail to clear their lines.
    As a result, they have to resort to hacking clear.
    Liverpool regain possession and come forward once again.
    Credit: Getty
    Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
    74. West Ham have both Paqueta and Ward-Prowse on now.
    It is a big ask of them to repair the damage that has already been done.
    Liverpool are continuing to pile on the pressure, looking for more goals.
    Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
    72. Just after Kudus narrowly sends one over the bar with their first attempt on goal of the game, Liverpool offer the ultimate sucker punch.
    Konate picks the ball up and runs through the middle of the park, the visitors just watching him.
    The defender feeds it to Gakpo, who steadies himself before burying his shot in the bottom corner of the goal from outside the box.
    Game over for The Hammers.
    Goal – Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
    Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
    70. Not a bad first touch from Bradley as he cushions it into the path of Salah in the box.
    He allows it to bounce and it just gets away from him slightly as he stretches to shoot.
    As a result he does not trouble the West Ham keeper.
    Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
    68. The travelling fans will be disappointed with this performance.
    It begs the question whether their side have failed to turn up or Liverpool have just not allowed them to get into their groove.
    Either way, time is running down and they need to find goals.
    Bradley is coming on for Tsimikas for The Reds.
    Credit: Getty More

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    Liverpool 5 West Ham 1: Reds run riot to book Carabao Cup semi-final spot as Moyes’ team selection backfires horribly

    THAT is more like it.After a record 34 unconverted shots at Anfield against Manchester United on Sunday, Liverpool finally got their reward for their scattergun approach to finding the net.
    Dominik Szoboszlai broke the deadlock with a brilliant strikeCredit: Getty
    Szoboszlai now has four goals this seasonCredit: PA
    Curtis Jones squeezed a second in from a tight angleCredit: Getty
    Jones scored a brace on a fine evening for the young midfielderCredit: Reuters
    Liverpool dominated West Ham across the 90 minutes
    Jones produced some hugely impressive stats against West Ham
    Seven more wayward attempts and 28 minutes into their Carabao Cup quarter final against West Ham, the net rippled at the eighth attempt with a 25-yard scorcher from Dominik Szoboslai.
    With their shooting boots laced up, the hosts found their killer instinct at long last – Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah adding the extras after the break. This time, 28 shots, five goals.
    Far from perfect, but the sort of shot-to-goal ratio that would have easily seen off Man Utd, and will definitely have title rivals Arsenal taking note ahead of their Saturday night visit.
    A semi-final for Liverpool in a competition they are looking to win for a record 10th time is nothing to be scoffed at, even if they continue to search for their vibrant, brilliant, heavy-metal best.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    But boss Jurgen Klopp will hope these are signs his Reds are only just warming up this campaign, having told the Kop faithful in his pre-match programme notes to keep the faith.
    Not that they were given any sort of contest by West Ham, and David Moyes left the red half of Merseyside without a win for the 21st time in his career – and counting – even with Jarrod Bowen’s consolation curling beauty.
    With June’s Europa Conference League final victory firmly in the memory bank, the Hammers fans could have been afforded more silverware dreaming with another semi in sight.
    But there is a reason the East Londoners have now won just once in their last 56 attempts away at Liverpool – an unwanted streak stretching back 60 years.
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    Szoboszlai was everywhere for Liverpool on Wednesday evening
    Cody Gakpo added a third for Jurgen Klopp’s sideCredit: AFP
    It did not help that Moyes made half a dozen changes from their impressive 3-0 dismantling of Wolves at the weekend, including dropping Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse, Emerson and skipper Kurt Zouma.
    Illness has been an unwelcome presence hampering the West Ham squad recently.
    Regardless, this sort of performance is one of the reason Moyes remains on thin ice with some sections of the fanbase.
    In the end, it was an embarrassing display.
    Liverpool will not have an easier evening all season, ensuring they remain unbeaten at home, winning 13 out of 12. Ominous form with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners shortly in town.
    Klopp also took this as a chance to rotate, leaving the likes of Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate among the substitutes.
    Harvey Elliott – keen to prove he is more than a super sub having started just one Premier League match so far this season – produced a hat-trick of attempts inside the first 20 minutes with only one on target.
    VAR was unplugged for this one, and Darwin Nunez looked to break West Ham’s offside trap with Vladimir Coufal seemingly too deep, but a debatable flag saved the Czech full-back’s blushes.
    Liverpool were utterly dominant with plenty of chances but none forcing visiting keeper Alphonse Areola into a meaningful save.
    Sound familiar? Anfield certainly felt so, the groans becoming louder.
    Mo Salah got in on the act as he scored Liverpool’s fourthCredit: Getty
    Those groans were soon interrupted by a screamer.
    Poor by Said Benrahma, a weak attempt at a counter attack giving Szoboslai the time and space to pick his spot, and then some.
    It was a knuckleball technique by the Hungarian that sparked memories of Cristiano Ronaldo during his prime Man Utd years.
    In response, Klopp clenched his knuckles with a cheesy grin.
    How Liverpool would love Szoboslai to make that a trademark finish on a regular basis, adding to the four goals in a red shirt he has so far.
    West Ham really were living off scraps, Bowen – on his 27th birthday – barely able to show the qualities he possesses that make him a player heavily admired by Klopp.
    Gakpo’s header on the brink of half-time should have nestled in Areola’s bottom corner – a warning sign the visitors did not take heed of in the second half with some woeful defending.
    Tomas Soucek decided to let Jones wander into the box unmarked in the 56th minute and was duly punished as the midfielder produced a neat finish from a tight angle through Areola’s legs.
    Paqueta was brought on moments later, out of desperation more than anything, while Klopp threw on Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Konate.
    West Ham’s night got worse in the 71st minute.
    More Soucek dallying and another long range hit, this time by Gakpo with stunning precision, before an equally fine hit by Bowen at the other end eight minutes later.
    Yet Liverpool were keen to make up for missed chances against United.
    Read more on The Sun
    After missing an open-goal sitter, Salah got in on the act thanks to an Alexander-Arnold tee-up in the 82nd minute.
    Less than two minutes later, Jones had his second, and Liverpool’s last of a superb night, even if West Ham’s disastrous backline had all but given up at this point.
    The Egyptian already has 15 goals in all competitions this seasonCredit: Getty More

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    OnlyFans influencer banned from entering Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea’s penalty shootout win over Newcastle

    ASTRID WETT was refused entry into Stamford Bridge during Chelsea’s clash with Newcastle.The Blues faced off against the Magpies in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
    Astrid Wett left Chelsea’s game against Newcastle earlyCredit: Twitter @AstridWett
    She walked out of the standsCredit: Twitter @AstridWett
    She is a Chelsea fanCredit: Instagram @wettastrid
    Astrid, 23, was in the stands for the first half and saw Callum Wilson’s solo goal give the visitors the lead.
    She became unimpressed with the performance from her beloved Blues during the second half.
    Artid shared a video online of herself venting her frustration.
    She said: “I have watched 80 minutes of this s*** and I cannot take it anymore.”
    READ MORE ON ASTRID WETT
    She then ended the video by walking out of her seat and out of the stands.
    However, in her huff, she missed Mykailo Mudryk’s 92nd-minute equaliser.
    Security staff apparently stopped her from re-entering the ground in order to watch the remainder of the match.
    Astrid then posted a tweet saying: “They won’t let me back in.”
    Most read in Football
    As well as the equaliser, Astrid also missed Chelsea come out on top in a penalty shootout.
    Fans celebrated the fact that she was blocked from returning on social media.
    One posted: “Deserved for leaving early always back your team.”
    A second wrote: “Karma. Lol never leave till the end.”
    A third commented: “That means that you are our bad luck charm.”
    A fourth said: “Good, shouldn’t leave early anyway.”
    Another added: “Hahahaha, next time stay till the end!”
    Fans also wanted Astrid banned after she wore a half-and-half shirt to Chelsea’s clash with Manchester City.
    The Blues progressed to the semi-finals of the competition with the draw to take place after Liverpool host West Ham tonight.
    Fans wanted her banned after wearing this shirtCredit: X / @AstridWett
    She wore the shirt to Stamford BridgeCredit: X / @AstridWett More

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    Premier League prodigy rushed to hospital with horror knee gash ‘down to the bone’

    SHEFFIELD UNITED youngster Oliver Arblaster was rushed to hospital after suffering a horror injury during a match.Arblaster is on loan from the Blades at League One side Port Vale.
    Oliver Arblaster was rushed to hospital after suffering a horror injuryCredit: Alamy
    The Sheffield United loanee suffered a nasty gash around his kneeCredit: Reuters
    He had to be stretchered off the pitch before he went to hospitalCredit: Alamy
    But during their 3-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, Arblaster had to be stretchered off.
    It came after a tackle left the centre midfielder writhing in pain with a nasty gash around his knee that went “right down to the bone”.
    Arblaster was given treatment on the field of play before he was taken off in the 59th minute.
    He was then rushed to hospital for further assessment and treatment on the injury.
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    The Valiants boss Andy Crosby said after the game that Arblaster’s condition was a “much bigger concern” than the result.
    Crosby added: “It was a really deep gash around his knee and I think it’s gone right down to the bone, so he’s obviously in a lot of pain.
    “He’s just gone to hospital now so obviously he’s our number one concern at this moment in time.”
    The following morning Arblaster provided an update on his condition.
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    Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “[In] Hospital most of the night with still no sleep.
    “Gutted tonight wasn’t enough from us all needed to be better than we was.
    “Just want to say a massive thanks to the @OfficialPVFC fans for the support and messages I’ll be fighting to come back stronger see you all soon!💪🏽😢.”
    He now faces a spell on the sidelines to recover from the blow.
    So far this season Arblaster has featured in 26 games, scoring two goals in League One and adding an assist in the division and a match-winning assist in the League Cup first round.
    He has played five times for Sheffield Utd’s senior side, making his debut in the Championship last season. More

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    Eddie Howe could not make the subs he wanted to against Chelsea, claims Toon legend Shay Given

    EDDIE HOWE could not make the substitutions he wanted to against Chelsea, according to Shay Given.The Newcastle legend pinpointed two players the Magpies boss will have wanted to withdraw in their Carabao Cup exit on Tuesday.
    Eddie Howe could not make the subs he wanted, according to Shay GivenCredit: Rex
    His former club were dumped out on penalties at Stamford Bridge after conceding a stoppage time equaliser.
    Having faded during the second half, Given was asked on Sky Sports if he thought Newcastle ran out of steam.
    He agreed as he responded: “Possibly, you look at Chelsea’s bench then you look at Newcastle’s bench. I think there were two keepers.
    “I know Matt Ritchie is more of an attacking player but the rest are fullbacks.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    “You look at Almiron at times, maybe even Wilson, and you want to take them off for 20 minutes. Give them a bit of fresh impetus up top to get them higher up the pitch. But they couldn’t do that.
    “You have to feel for Eddie and his staff because he’s got to trust the 10 that’s out there.”
    Howe, who named just eight subs out of the permitted nine, made three changes during the match.
    Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn replaced Sven Botman and the injured Emil Krafth at half-time.
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    Anthony Gordon was then forced off just seven minutes later, with Matt Ritchie coming on in his place.
    The remainder of his bench consisted of goalkeepers Mark Gillespie and Loris Karius, centre-back Paul Dummett and teenage defenders Alex Murphy and Lewis Hall.
    Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino was able to use all five of his alterations, including the introduction of goalscorer Mykhailo Mudryk.
    Krafth and Gordon’s injuries are the latest in a growing list of blows to Howe’s squad.
    Newcastle now have 12 players sidelined in addition to Sandro Tonali’s season-ending suspension.
    The Magpies are also now out of both the Carabao Cup and Europe ahead of their return to league action this weekend.
    Howe will hope to snap their poor away streak and pick up a first league win on the road since September 24 at Luton on Saturday.
    Howe could only name eight subs against Chelsea, including two goalkeepersCredit: Rex More