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.

As the standout match of the weekend looms, I am taken back on memory lane yet again. This time, I was reminded of the heartwrencher at Anfield on 26th May 1989. On that day, Liverpool were three points ahead of closest challenger, George Graham's Arsenal. The Reds needed to avoid defeat by a two-goal margin to be crowned champions.

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.

Liverpool travels to Blackburn on Saturday 5th December hoping to register their third consecutive win in all competitions. A Blackburn Rovers who must be full of confidence, having came through a nervy penalty shootout to beat Chelsea and advance to the semifinals of the Carling Cup.
Though not a crucial match, a win for Liverpool will help the Reds consolidate their fifth position in the Premiership league table.

Celebrations Shall Take Over

It has been a difficult time as an Arsenal fan and tomorrow's is one fixture where we need to win more desperately then we probably ever did. Given any other day, i would have comfortably predicted an Arsenal rout but this is not any other day. It is going to be a challenge, can the players put back the disappointments of the weeks before and show their true class and calibre or shall we sink deeper into the realms of ignominy.

Friday 4 December
17.15 FIFA World Cup 2010 Finals Draw, BBC2
Charlize Theron takes over from Heidi Klum as the distraction from the picking out of kinder eggs from pots. Jonathan Pierce provides the pointless commentary to the proceedings. Good excuse to knock off work early.
19.

Three penalty misses in Week 14 were events which were not to be missed. The penalty misses by Frank Lampard, Cesc Fabregas and Jermain Defoe in one week surely were unthinkable but it happened last weekend. Giving more proof that there is no end to the excitement that the English Premier League brings to the table week after week!

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.

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres took a private jet to Zurich yesterday for the FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a brief respite from the crisis engulfing Anfield.
It was an opportunity to rub shoulders with football's elite at a time when Liverpool's awful form has made a mockery of their claims to be among the world's leading clubs and Rafael Benitez's bold prediction that his side will finish in the top four of the Barclays Premier League once more.

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.

Manchester United traveled to face Hull City as they needed a win to keep pace with English Premier League leaders Chelsea. Hull City, on the other hand, needed points in their battle to avoid relegation. The match was at the KC Stadium where Hull City have their only wins of the season and Manchester United have a 6-0-4 road record.

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.

Image by UJMi via Flickr It was a wet cold night at the Old Trafford and Manchester United had their task cut out against a near full strength Tottenham side in the Carling Cup quarter finals. Manchester United had the same side that lost to Besiktas last week but the Carling Cup holders managed to secure [.

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.

After the euphoria of a crazy 5-3 win over Burnley, an injury crisis jolts West Ham back to reality. Carlton Cole is confirmed out of action until the new year. Valon Behrami and Alessandro Diamanti are sidelined with injuries, knee and hip respectively. Matty Upson cannot seem to shake off his hamstring problem.

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.

Another crucial six-pointer awaits West Ham before the busy football period of Christmas and New Year's Eve. Birmingham and Bolton is next and the Hammers must bust a gut to beat these two teams. Could we get all six points against two sides who does not have the quality and ability that West Ham has?

Friday 11th December
19:30 Hertha Berlin v Leverkusen, Bundesliga, ESPN
Not sure why the Bundesliga keep scheduling Hertha games for their TV matches. They're awful. Perhaps they are getting the Berliners out of the way and allow them to be relegated in peace. Leverkusen are top but have been dropping points.

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.

Which sport has the best set of fans?

Football or rugby? Which are more passionate, more loyal, more knowledgeable and which generate the more infectious atmospheres?

There is only one answer as far as I am concerned and it's not the group of egg-chasing enthusiasts.

Monday 14 December
19.45 West Bromwich Albion v Queens Park Rangers, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink is the latest to be tipped to take over the searingly hot seat at QPR. He'll be the ninth manager in three years if he does, so he probably won't be making himself too comfy there.

News this weekend that Manchester United were to be the latest club subjected to a takeover bid came as little surprise. The recent history of the club suggested that it was ripe for new ownership. Since the fateful August day in the 1980s when Michael Knighton juggled the ball and left it nestling in the goal at the Stretford End, United has paved the way through plc status, Murdoch mania and now Glazer Hell.

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.

Welcome one and all to our annual bumper festive TV Preview. As usual, we'll be taking you through the final days of the year with our take on all the football-related TV nonsense you should be watching. Or at least 'consider' watching. Or 'dismissing altogether'. It's your choice, frankly.
Friday 18 December
11:00 UEFA Champions League Final 16 Draw, British Eurosport
12:00 UEFA Europa League Draw, British Eurosport
Some people might expect to get a new pair of socks this Christmas while others may receive a matching tie and handkerchief.

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

check out the UKFF Predictor game and win tickets to Real Madrid

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.

It was a fantastic weekend of Premiership football! I had said in my previous post that Portsmouth could really set the tone for a rousing round and they did just that. Beating Liverpool was a result which lifted Pompey off the bottom albeit only overnight. Still, history was made as the 500th Premier League goal of this goal-laden season was scored by Portsmouth's Nadir Belhadj.