Mark Hughes Out;Roberto Mancini In

City's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and owner, Sheikh Mansour, had grown increasingly disillusioned with City's poor form, having watched Hughes' side win just twice in eleven league games.

In giving reason for the decision on City's website, Al Mubarak said: "Prior to the current season beginning, with significant investment in players and infrastructure in place, the consensus between the board and coaching staff was that appropriate agreed targets should be set for the 2009-2010 season.

"The targets were agreed as a result of the player acquisition strategy of the club being radically accelerated in the summer as a result of very favourable conditions for any buying club. It was also based on the fact that the infrastructure of the club had been overhauled completely at great cost in order to create the best possible environment for the team.

"A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets that were agreed and set. Sheikh Mansour and the board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change. This is a particularly difficult announcement given the personal investment over the past 15 months on all sides and we would like to put on record our respect for and thanks to Mark Hughes and we wish him the best in his future career."

The statement also confirmed the appointment, with immediate effect on a permanent contract, of Roberto Mancini, while Brian Kidd joins the team as assistant manager.

"Roberto is a hugely experienced manager with a proven track record of winning trophies and championships,'' it read. ''His experience and track record speak for themselves. What is absolutely clear is that Roberto believes in Manchester City's potential to achieve at the highest level and importantly in his own ability to make this happen. My hope is that our incredible fans will join us in welcoming Roberto to the football club."

Hughes oversaw City's 4-3 victory over Sunderland on Saturday but he is thought to have known about his sacking before the game, and appeared emotional at the end of the match, apparently waving goodbye to the home supporters.

City are up to sixth in the table but the 3-0 midweek drubbing by Spurs was the final straw for the owners, who are keen on an overhaul in order to keep the club's Champions League qualification hopes alive.

The agent of Guus Hiddink revealed on Friday that City had been in contact with the Dutchman, while Jürgen Klinsmann and Jose Mourinho had also been linked with the job.

Mark Bowen, Eddie Niedzwiecki, Kevin Hitchcock and Glyn Hodges have also left the club and further appointments will be announced in due course.

Another Bad Weekend For Liverpool

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 Premier League.

However, Liverpool's chances of finishing in the top four are uncertain - they missed a chance to record back-to-back league wins for the first time since September.

It means Avram Grant maintains his unbeaten record against Benitez after recording two wins and two draws during his time at Chelsea in the 2008 season.

Back then he ended the Spaniard's Champions League hopes at the semi-final stage - this time he has dented their chances of even qualifying for the competition.

Benitez was furious with Lee Mason, who sent two Liverpool players off during the defeat to Fulham earlier in the season, for his straight red for Mascherano, who will now miss four games through suspension.

The defeat also meant there was no celebration to mark Jamie Carragher's 600th appearance for Liverpool - until Belhadj's strike he would not have enjoyed an easier 30 minutes in his previous 599.

In truth, both sides needed time to find their footing in a game played under tricky conditions. The match was able to go ahead due to the pitch being covered during the week, although there were traces of snow on the shaded areas of the turf meaning passing was sometimes hindered.

Benitez was boosted by the return of Fernando Torres after the Spain striker rested his troublesome groin in the midweek win over Wigan - but he was limited to half-chances.

Torres had a sight of goal early on but Hermann Hreidarsson was back in time - his sliced clearance could have gone anywhere but ended up in Asmir Begovic's hands.

Torres then got closer midway through the half after collecting a pass from Andrea Dossena and curling just over the bar, then he was inches from Steven Gerrard's cross.

Dossena's selection was a curious decision, especially with Yossi Benayoun relegated to the bench and Ryan Babel back after an ankle complaint.

And any plans Benitez had of his changes ensuring a simple victory were blown away just after the half-hour mark when Pompey took the lead.

Belhadj started the move himself by nutmegging Emiliano Insua to set up the attack. When the ball was cleared, Kevin-Prince Boateng forced Pepe Reina into a save with a powerful volley, former Pompey full-back Glen Johnson cleared the ball only as far as Belhadj and the Algerian lashed in at the near post.

Belhadj has been out of favour under Grant, this was his first game since October and resulted in his first goal of the campaign.

Daniel Agger should have levelled before the break. Gerrard's free-kick found him unmarked but the centre-back headed over from close range.

To make matters worse, Mascherano's dismissal came shortly before half-time.

The Argentina midfielder recklessly crashed into Tal Ben Haim, although his feet did not leave the ground. Nevertheless, Mason consulted the fourth official before giving a straight red card.

It was a decision that infuriated Benitez, who had chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning'' aimed at him from home fans.

Benitez made his move eight minutes after the break, introducing Benayoun for Dossena to the delight of Liverpool fans, many of whom had set off at unsociable hours for the lunchtime kick-off.

Michael Brown made himself busy in midfield, winding up his opponents and when Torres snapped and fouled the Pompey skipper it earned the striker a yellow card. The Spanish striker may have been fortunate to stay on the pitch when he led with his arm in a challenge on Ben Haim.

Johnson also earned a booking for tripping Jamie O'Hara when the on-loan Tottenham midfielder robbed him deep in Liverpool territory.

Begovic needed to be at his sharpest to deny Gerrard after the England midfielder's shot struck Brown and Hreidarsson. The Pompey goalkeeper was falling the wrong way but managed to palm the ball away.

Piquionne doubled the lead with eight minutes remaining, latching onto Boateng's cross, spinning around Carragher and finishing crisply.

Tottenham to Snatch Arsenal to striker Marouane Chamakh

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly looking to snare Arsenal target Marouane Chamakh, who is fast approaching the conclusion of his contract with Ligue 1 side Girondins de Bordeaux.

Following the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City in a £25 million deal, there was much press speculation as to who Arsene Wenger would replace the Togolese targetman with, and Chamakh headed the list of likely candidates.

However, Wenger negated the notion.

Chamakh, a Morrocco international, is available on a Bosman transfer at the end of the season, and Harry Redknapp, according to The Daily Mail, is keen on signing the player as a replacement for Russia misfit Roman Pavlyuchenko.
The striker, 25, is reportedly eager to seek an exit from the Stade Chaban Delmas and is alleged to welcome the interest.

He has scored seven goals in 14 appearances in all competitions this season, including five in Ligue 1.

I failed Zola: Carlo Ancelotti

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that his errors during his days at Parma prompted Gianfranco Zola to move to Stamford Bridge in 1996, ultimately igniting an largely successful and respectful career in the British Isles.

The Blues head has strolled down memory lane before his men face Zola's West Ham on Sunday, stating that his managerial mistakes included playing the former forward out of position and putting him up for transfer.

The 50-year-old told the The Guardian: "Probably, I made a mistake with him because I wanted to play 4-4-2 and I put the players in the right positions but he [Zola] wanted to stay in the centre like a striker."

"In that period, when there was this discussion, Chelsea offered him a good contract and he decided to go. I think it was a mistake. It was my first experience in Serie A and I was not able to change the system."

Despite West Ham's low position on the Premier League standings, Ancelotti is refusing to undermine his match-day opponents, insisting they shouldn't be taken lightly.

"I think that Gianfranco Zola is not living a good moment but he has quality to improve."

"West Ham have had a lot of problems with injuries, but we have to pay attention to this game. It's a derby and they will put a very good spirit into this game," he said.

Arsene Wenger: Move to Manchester City Not Unlikely

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stirred the speculation pot by declaring that a move to Manchester City in the not-too-distant future could always be on the cards for him.

With Mark Hughes' position in danger, it seems Wenger has turned into the new frontrunner to take over City, with Guus Hiddink now relegated to the backup choice.

Wenger, whose contract at Arsenal expires at the end next season, has stated that whilst he will honour his commitment to the Gunners, there is no telling where he could end up afterwards.

Telling the press: "I live every day thinking I will stay my whole life where I am, but somewhere I know it can end."

"It's funny because the older you get the more you're conscious of that."

But when pressed on the matter at hand, Wenger went coy, stating that if it were his time to move on from Emirates Stadium, then so be it.

"If Arsenal say to me, ‘You’ve got to go,’ I will say I’d still like to work in football, of course," he said.

Wenger's men will look to exact revenge against Phil Brown's Hull City on Saturday night, after the Tigers' 2-1 win over the Gunners last year, .