Mark Hughes has spoken of his sacking, with an official statement on the LMA website:

"I was informed after yesterday's match against Sunderland that my contract with Manchester City was being terminated with immediate effect. Notwithstanding media coverage to the contrary, I was given no forewarning as to the Club's decision.

Troubled Liverpool face a Christmas of uncertainty with fresh claims that a Saudi prince is ready to buy the 50 per cent stake of co-owner George Gillett.
Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdullah announced on television that he was flying to England to attend the Barclays Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Boxing Day as a guest of Gillett.

Rafael Benitez has vowed to take Liverpool back into the Champions League as they prepare for the embarrassment of a dead rubber against Fiorentina on Wednesday.
Liverpool are already out of this season's competition having failed to finish in the top two in Group E, a humiliating experience for the five-time European Cup winners.

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano believes the team must use Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at home to Arsenal as an opportunity to rebuild their battered reputation.
An early exit from the Champions League - for the first time since manager Rafael Benitez took over in 2004 - and stuttering domestic form have had some critics writing off the club.

Arsène Wenger has accused Mick McCarthy of undermining the "international credibility" of the Barclays Premier League and giving Manchester United a helping hand in the title race.
"We will compete with Manchester United over 37 games instead of 38. I believe it is a problem for the international credibility of the Premier League for sure, but it's not my problem, it's a Premier League problem.

Valencia man changes tune about potential Premier League move.

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After flirting with several English clubs in the past, David Villa is eyeing up a move to the Barclays Premier League.

Arsenal hosted Aston Villa on Sunday, December 27, 2009 in the English Premier League with both teams in the top four of the table. It was a chance for Villa to show they are ready to fight for a Champions League spot but would be difficult playing at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal, on the other hand, were looking to keep their title hopes alive and needed a win to keep pace with Man U and Chelsea.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits he must assess the risk of using Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani in tonight's critical Barclays Premier League clash at Aston Villa.
The £20million summer signing from Roma finally made his first league start in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Wolves.

The late match on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 in the English Premier League was Bolton Wanderers against Hull City. Both teams are in the relegation zone heading into the match and in need of points. Bolton are not in as dire of need as they have a few matches in hand on most clubs heading into the match while Hull do not have that luxury.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to revive his bid for Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh.
The Daily Mail says Wenger admits his concern at failing to score in back-to-back Barclays Premier League defeats by Chelsea and Sunderland following injury to star striker Robin van Persie.
With the Holland international now ruled out for up to five months and Nicklas Bendtner also struggling with a groin strain, Wenger is contemplating adding to his attacking options when the transfer window opens in January.

Steven Gerrard has admitted Liverpool's chances of catching Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea are slim and that Champions League qualification is now the target.
The Reds are in fifth place, 13 points behind Chelsea and two behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played a game more than the Gunners.

Nabil El Zhar is relishing the opportunity to make up for lost time by playing a part in Liverpool's ascent up the Barclays Premier League table.
The Moroccan winger missed the opening months of the 2009-10 campaign due to a knee ligament problem sustained in pre-season.
However, El Zhar has been named on the substitutes' bench for the Reds' last two league outings, and with his injury woe now behind him, the 23-year-old is eager to make his first-team return in the coming weeks.

Tottenham failed to retain or rather move to the third spot as they concede two late second half goals in the Super Sunday Barclays Premier League match. Tottenham went ahead into this match with the goal from Jermaine Defoe and then from Dawson at the early stages of the second half. Tottenham has been in brilliant [.

The Barclays Premier League reigning Champions moved a step closer and within 2 points of the league leaders Chelsea with an emphatic victory at Upton Park. With Manchester's defence looking shaky of late, many considered that it would be a run for the money for the Red devils but it was not quite so [.

Former Liverpool captain and manager Graeme Souness fears the club could go into "meltdown" after they finished their Champions League campaign with their lowest points haul.
A stoppage-time 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina at Anfield left Rafael Benitez's side, who were already unable to progress to the knockout phase, with just seven points from six matches.

Premier League Team News - Barclays Premier League - ESPN SoccernetHello everybody. I'm back from my 10 day football pilgrimage to Argentina. I used the opportunity to soak in the incredible passion for the game that the Argentinians have and hopefully that extra passion and energy will translate into me making better picks for myself.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes the additional competition for Champions League places this season will actually help his stuttering side.
The Reds are currently seventh, five points outside the top four, after a dismal run of only two wins in their last nine Barclays Premier League matches.

Latest Castrol Football rankings were out on the 15th December 2009. This is Barclays Premier League related player rankings.
Fernando Torres is still the top BPL performer as per last month's rankings. However, Andrei Arshavin's unstoppable goal at Anfield has enabled him to leapfrog Vidic and Gerrard into second place.

West Ham faces Chelsea in a Premiership London derby this Sunday, and there is no reason to be optimistic. Therefore the only thing for Zola and the Hammer fans to hope for is that the team plays with pride and fight. If there is anything that Everton's draw has shown, it is that Chelsea's rhythm must be disrupted and its players must not have time on the ball.

Premier League Team News - Barclays Premier League - ESPN SoccernetLooks like Glen Johnson and Nando will be back for Pool but Riera will not be - Nando is obviously a strong bet playing against Pompey.DDunn is doubtful/facing a late fitness test which means you should run scared from Rovers players.

Barclays Premier League

Sick of Lawro's predictable predictions every Friday on the BBC? We certainly are, we've decided enough is enough, so tune in every Friday to check out Dexy's pukka predictions.

Beat Dexy and we'll send you a lovely packet of sausages.

Arsenal v Hull 3-1
Aston Villa v Stoke 2-0
Blackburn v Tottenham 0-0
Fulham v Man Utd 1-2
Man City v Sunderland 1-1
Portsmouth v Liverpool 1-1
Everton v Birmingham 2-1
West Ham v Chelsea 0-4
Wolverhampton v Burnley 2-2

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Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes the first-half dismissal of Javier Mascherano signalled the beginning of the end for his side as they fell to a 2-0 loss at Portsmouth today.
The Argentinian midfielder saw red shortly before the interval after recklessly crashing into Tal Ben Haim, although his feet did not leave the ground.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez suffered a disastrous trip to Portsmouth after Javier Mascherano was dismissed during a miserable defeat at Fratton Park.
Pompey's victory, with the goals coming from Nadir Belhadj and Frederic Piquionne, will ignite hope of survival in the Barclays Premier League.

Hughes I had no warning

"I was informed after Saturday's match against Sunderland that my contract with Manchester City was being terminated with immediate effect," read a statement on the League Managers' Association official website.

"Notwithstanding media coverage to the contrary, I was given no forewarning as to the club's decision.

Image via Wikipedia Arsenal is a team to reckon with in the ongoing Barclays Premier league and they are taking no prisoners this time. Last Saturday they made mincemeat out of the defense of Hull city at the Emirates stadium. Although the captain Cesc Fabregas could not make it to the field, the team did [.

Image via Wikipedia Aston villa has proved once again who the boss is with their latest win in the Barclays Premier League against Stoke. Martin O'Neill's side proved that they are at the top of their game by winning the game fair and square. The hard earned victory will most certainly bring the grins back [.

Image via Wikipedia Last Saturday on the Barclays Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur surely seemed like the better team as they made sure that they went home with a victory in their records. What set them apart from the Blackburn Rovers is the fact that they were able to transform their chances into goals effectively.

• Mancini will not accept 'nonsense' from Bellamy and co - Barclays Premier League - ESPN Soccernet

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• 12 questions for Garry Cook - Manchester City - Football - Sport - Manchester Evening News

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• BBC Sport - Football - Man City angry at reaction to Mancini's appointment

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Barclays Premier League

Sick of Lawro's predictable predictions every Friday on the BBC? We certainly are, we've decided enough is enough, so tune in every Friday to check out Dexy's pukka predictions.

Beat Dexy and we'll send you a lovely packet of sausages.

Birmingham v Chelsea 1-3
Burnley v Bolton 2-1
Fulham v Tottenham 2-1
Liverpool v Wolverhampton 2-0
Man City v Stoke 1-0
Sunderland v Everton 2-4
West Ham v Portsmouth 1-1
Wigan v Blackburn 2-1
Arsenal v Aston Villa 0-1
Hull v Man Utd 1-0

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Just like the Barclays Premier League and others like La Liga, Calcio de Lega and Bundesliga, the World Cup tournaments are pretty dominated by four nations. These are the nations with the most World Cup wins in the history of the tournament. Brazil, Italy, Germany and Argentina are the most successful teams in the World Cup.

Rafael Benitez admits the fitness of key men Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres is having to be carefully managed as Liverpool desperately seek an improvement in their form.
The Merseysiders have won just four of their last 17 games, and have fallen so far that Birmingham are ahead of them as the halfway point of the Barclays Premier League season looms.

The Boxing Day action from the Barclays Premier League is in the books and the results for the most part were far from astonishing. While the day kicked off with league leaders Chelsea held to an away draw in the only surprise result of the day, the remainder of the action seemed like a formality for both the favorites and the underdogs.

20 years old Carlos Vela was an unused substitute, as Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side drive close to Chelsea and Manchester United in the Barclays Premiership with a big 3:0 win over Aston Villa.

The Gunners secured the victory in the second half as Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas joined the pitch to score a brace and with just few seconds left attacking midfielder Abou Diaby slotted home for the Gunners.

Liverpool are ready to offload Andrea Dossena to fund a move for Norwegian forward Erik Huseklepp.
Zenit St Petersburg have joined the race for Dossena and value the Italy left back at about £2million - £5m less than Rafa Benitez paid Udinese for him 18 months ago.
If the Reds are prepared to take such a big hit, the same fee should be enough to snare Huseklepp from Norwegian side Brann.

Martin O'Neill believes Liverpool are capable of repeating the feat of Arsenal last season and rescuing a Champions League spot via a long unbeaten run during the second half of the campaign.
Aston Villa boss O'Neill recalls how his side were in pole position to claim a Barclays Premier League top four place before the Gunners hit top form in the final third of the season to overhaul them.

Aston Villa will be without suspended winger Ashley Young for Tuesday's Barclays Premier League visit of Liverpool.
Young has started all 19 of Villa's league games to date this season but will have to serve a one-game ban after collecting his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

After several fixtures on Monday, the English Premier League has only two matches on Tuesday, December 29, 2009. Aston Villa looks to rebound after an 0-3 loss to Arsenal as they host Liverpool and in the other match, Bolton Wanderers host Hull City. Liverpool are starting to find their form after a rough start and can gain ground on Villa with a win.

Gary Megson has been sacked as manager of Bolton Wanderers with first team coach Steve Wigley and assistant manager Chris Evans taking over first-team duties with immediate effect.
A statement on the club's official website said: "Gary Megson has been relieved of his duties as First Team Manager of Bolton Wanderers Football Club with immediate effect.

There were two English Premier League matches on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 including Arsenal traveling to face Portsmouth. The teams are on the opposite ends of the spectrum as Arsenal is still in the title chase but Portsmouth are battling relegation. Heading into the match, the Gunners have two games in hand on Chelsea and in third place.

One of the two matches in the English Premier League on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 was Manchester United hosting Wigan Athletic. Man United have kept pace with Chelsea and could move within two points with a win. Wigan on the other hand have been struggling of late and could be in a fight against relegation if they continue to drop points.