Speculation Regarding Leighton Baines' Future

It seems Leighton Baines' days at Everton are numbered considering reports are emerging of him leaving Merseyside and going off to Munich. Manager David Moyes was quick to squash these rumors insisting there's no truth behind them and it's only speculation.

Leighton Baines has been one of the highlights of Everton's season so far and along with Tim Cahill they are Everton most prized assets. With Tim Cahill leaving in January to do battle for Australia it will be left down to Englishman Baines to provide the spark that Everton need to get their season up and running.

Everton are currently struggling and are placed at 14th in the table at the moment. Although they're traditionally known as 'slow starters' it's not a nice feeling being so near the bottom. This season the table has become far more tighter than in recent seasons with 1 point separating Everton and 8th and 6 separating them from 5th place Tottenham.

Brief Thoughts On The Champions League Last 16 Draw

Earlier today UEFA contested the draw for the Champions League Last 16 and as always they dished up some mouth-watering ties. Arsenal vs Barcelona is BY FAR the most anticipated crunch match and Arsenal didn't do themselves any favours by finishing second in their group. Manchester United & Chelsea received kind fixtures, drawing Marseille & FC Copenhagen respectively. There is also a rematch of last seasons final with Inter taking on Bayern Munich. High Flying Tottenham drew AC Milan who wobbled through their group.

Arsenal must surely be worried considering they drew the almighty Barcelona. In recent years Barcelona have established themselves as the 'passing' perfectionists and they play a simliar footballing side with Arsenal arguably the most entertaining Premier League side to watch. I'm predicting an exciting encounter with Barca slightly edging the Gunners. Who knows, we might even have 'The Messi Show" again!

Champions League first timers Tottenham face a difficult visit to the San Siro but if they perform like they did against last seasons champions Inter Milan they could be in with a real shout. They are also the Champions League's top scorers, with a tally of 18 and with the likes of Rafa Van Der Vaart, Jermain Defoe & Luka Modric, I can see them cruising into the quarter finals and set up a potential visit to the Nou Camp.

Here is the full draw in chronological order:

AS Roma  vs FC Shakhtar Donetsk 
AC Milan  vs Tottenham Hotspur FC
Valencia CF  vs FC Schalke 04 
FC Internazionale Milano  vs FC Bayern München 
Olympique Lyonnais  vs Real Madrid CF
Arsenal FC  vs FC Barcelona 
Olympique de Marseille  vs Manchester United FC 
FC København  vs Chelsea FC