Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano will miss his side’s crucial festive fixtures after being handed a four match ban for his red card at Portsmouth of Saturday.

The impish Argentine was given his marching orders for a dangerous challenge on Tal Ben Haim, as his side succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park.

However, Mascherano’s involvement in Liverpool’s next set of fixtures would have been in doubt anyway as the midfielder sustained a knee ligament injury while making the challenge.

Liverpool’s official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv, announced the midfielder will sit out the Christmas fixtures with Wolves and Aston Villa as well as the FA Cup tie at Reading and the league clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Kevin Doyle inspired a crucial win for Wolves to ease the pressure on manager Mick McCarthy after the storm over his team selection at Old Trafford.

Striker Doyle tortured the Burnley defence all afternoon and after playing a crucial part in the first goal for Nenad Milijas, he scored the second to ensure Owen Coyle’s away-day blues continued.

Wolves boss McCarthy went into this clash desperate for a win to get the critics off his back.

The Yorkshireman came under heavy fire from all quarters after resting 10 players in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United, a result that came just days after his side had beaten high-flying Spurs at White Hart Lane.

As expected, it was all change here at Molineux as McCarthy made nine changes to his starting line-up, leaving goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann as the only Wolves player to have started the Black Country side’s last three games.

Travel sick Burnley, playing their 2,000th top-flight game, were still seeking their first win on the road in the Premier League. Prior to this showdown between the sides promoted from the Championship last season, the Clarets had picked up just one point away from Turf Moor in eight league games.

When the sides last met in the top league, in the 1975/6 season, Wolves nicked a thriller 3-2. But there was nothing thrilling about a scrappy start which did little to warm supporters on a freezing cold day in Wolverhampton.

Burnley’s Chris Eagles was the first to try for goal, but his ambitious free-kick from 35 yards drifted harmlessly wide of Hahnemann’s left post with four minutes on the clock.

The Lancashire side looked dangerous on the counter attack early on and a raid down the right by Tyrone Mears saw the defender find club top scorer Steven Fletcher in the box, but the Scot’s header lacked the power needed to trouble Hahnemann.

Wolves had shown patches of bright build up play on an ice-scarred pitch but had failed to trouble the Burnley goal.

But that changed on nine minutes when £6.5million striker Doyle tried his luck from the edge of the box. The Irishman’s effort cannoned off a defender for the first corner of the day but the shot seemed to lift Wolves and their frozen fans.

The Midlands side began to pile on the pressure with Doyle the dangerman. And it was the former Reading star who was key to Wolves nosing ahead on 15 minutes.

Doyle used his electric pace to quickly close down Burnley’s Clarke Carlisle, stealing the ball on the left of the area before squaring for Matthew Jarvis inside the box.

Jarvis hit a weak-looking shot towards goal and Clarets stopper Brian Jensen should have done better as he parried the ball straight into the path of Milijas who tapped in an easy finish from six yards to delight his boss McCarthy on the touchline.

Burnley immediately went in search of an equaliser and Kevin McDonald was set free on the edge of the Wolves area after some slick passing but scuffed his effort wide from a great position.

On 19 minutes Wolves should have been two up. Again Doyle and Milijas were involved, this time the tricky Serbian laying on a chance for an offside-looking Doyle, whose effort was clubbed away by the right boot of the floored Jensen.

Burnley’s Carlisle, at fault for the first goal, was replaced by Mike Duff on 34 minutes and Doyle was soon troubling the defender with his bustling style.

And there were more worries for manager Owen Coyle when striker Fletcher required treatment after he accidentally kicked the studs of Wolves defender Jody Craddock.

Fletcher was fit enough to continue but he cut a frustrated figure as the first half wore on with below-par Burnley struggling to carve out any clear cut opportunities and wasteful in possession.

Burnley kicked off the second half mindful that Wolves had not managed to keep a clean sheet at home all season.

Coyle tweaked his tactics with Andre Bikey pushed up front to support Fletcher and the Clarets were the first to threaten three minutes into the second half.

A quality ball from the right by Mears looked sure to find the head of Fletcher but Wolves defender Richard Stearman clambered over the forward to head away for a corner.

Fletcher felt he had been wrestled away from the ball unfairly but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the appeals for a penalty.

From the corner, the ball eventually broke to Duff but the defender swung at air when well placed in a huge let off for Wolves.

Seconds later, McCarthy’s side went two ahead and again it was that man Doyle.

A long punt out of the Wolves defense was controlled by the striker who fended off Steven Caldwell before smartly turning Duff and finishing expertly with his left foot from eight yards with Jensen helpless in the Burnley goal.

It was a clever goal by Doyle, his fifth in the league this season, but he then stupidly stripped off his shirt to celebrate in front of the Wolves faithful and was booked for his troubles.

The goal marked the end of Bikey’s role as an emergency striker as he was replaced by David Nugent on 52 minutes with Coyle left with little choice but to gamble as another away game looked to be slipping from the Clarets’ grasp.

Skipper Caldwell was close to giving the men from Turf Moor a lifeline on 63 minutes. The Scot rose highest after Hahnemann flapped at a corner and headed goalwards, only to be denied on the line by the waiting Kevin Foley.

It was end to end stuff now with Burnley going for broke but Wolves were denied a third from a counter attack when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s header from point-blank range was spectacularly saved by Jensen.

Both sides made changes on 68 minutes with Joey Gudjonnson replacing Caldwell for Burnley and defender Michael Mancienne, on loan from Chelsea, coming on for Wolves in place of goalscorer Milijas.

It was swashbuckling stuff in the second half in stark contrast to a stagnant first period.

Ebanks-Blake was starting to have a say on the game and on 71 minutes he burst into the box but with the angle against him he could only blast at Jensen who pushed the ball away for a corner.

From the flag-kick Doyle beat Graham Alexander with a super leap but his header lacked the accuracy to beat a relieved Jensen.

With Eagles pulling the strings for Burnley, the Clarets were passing the ball much better and Fletcher again was left looking pleadingly at the referee as he was hauled back in the box by Karl Henry for what looked a penalty.

But referee Atkinson was unmoved and his arms stayed by his side to frustrate Coyle’s men.

The Wolves fans ended the game singing the name of on-song Doyle, who was substituted in the dying moments.

It must have been music to the ears of McCarthy, who allowed himself a wry smile after his Old Trafford plan paid dividends.

“Extremely disappointed” former boss insists he was unaware of his fate.

Mark Hughes has today issued a statement following his sacking as Manchester City boss.

Some media coverage had suggested that the Welshman knew about his fate before the game after he appeared to clap and wave farewell to the supporters at Eastlands after the final whistle of the victory over Sunderland yesterday.

However, it appears that he only discovered the City hierarchy’s decision to sack him after the game.

“I was informed after yesterday’s match against Sunderland that my
contract with Manchester City was being terminated with immediate
effect,” he told the official website of the League Managers Association.

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

“Given the speed with which my
successor’s appointment was announced, it would appear that the club
had made its decision some considerable time ago.”

Hughes also appears bitterly frustrated that he was not given more time to see his plans for City come to fruition and maintains that talk of his failing to hit the owners’ targets for the club are a little wide of the mark.

“I am extremely
disappointed not to have been given the opportunity to see through my
plans at the club,” he added.

“At the beginning of the season I sat down with the
owners and it was agreed that a realistic target for the season would
be 6th place in the Premier League, or in the region of 70
points.

“All of this was communicated to the players and we all knew
where we stood. Whilst everyone at the club would obviously have wanted
to see more wins, we were absolutely on target at the time of my
dismissal. Only recently we had terrific victories against both Arsenal
and Chelsea.

“I am very proud of the fact that I steered the club through the most significant period of change in its history.

“I
have always been aware of the responsibility that comes with being
afforded the luxury of a significant transfer budget, and I was
grateful that the club supported me with significant investment in
players.

“I very much regret, however, that I will not now be able to
enjoy the success that would undoubtedly have followed in the light of
that investment.

“I believe that I have handled with dignity the recent pressure placed upon me by press speculation.”

Hughes also expressed his gratitude to the Eastlands support, who he feels always backed him throughout his eventful spell at the club.

“I
would like to thank the fans for their support throughout my time at
the club and particularly at this difficult time,” he stated.

“And I wish the club
every success in the future, particularly in relation to the
forthcoming League Cup semi-final, the club’s first semi-final for 28
years.”

5. Auckland City

Let’s start off the Top 5 not with one individual player, but one collection of heroes. Little Auckland City came into the tournament expected to be the whipping boys, but they left with pride and honour as they bagged fifth-place in the 7-team championship. Adam Dickinson, Chad Coombes, Jason Hayne and Riki Van Steeden may have been the protagonists for the club and in a way for their country, but there’s no question that the entire team, from the first XI to the squad players, deserve to be recognised collectively.

4. Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes)

The veteran playmaker has continued his stunning return to form. Estudiantes’ answer to Xavi, the 34-year-old masterminded his team’s march to the final with a virtuoso display against Pohang Steelers in the semis, before leading his team on the frontline against Barca in the showpiece finale with an admirable all-round performance as he helped his side weather the storm in defence, marshalled the midfield, and led the attack. Wrapped up the tournament by collecting the Silver Ball.

3. Pedro (Barcelona)

As Barca entered the record books, young Pedro carved his name into Camp Nou history by becoming the first ever player to score in six different competitions in a single season. And he didn’t just score… he scored vital goals for the Blaugrana in the Club World Cup, none more so than the 89th minute equaliser against Estudiantes in the final. It might well be the most important goal he will ever score in his footballing career. In a tournament where the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were expected to be the headline acts, it was the 22-year-old Pedrito who stole all the thunder.

2. Denilson (Pohang Steelers)

The Brazilian – not the one who used to be the world’s most expensive player – picked up the Golden Shoe as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals as he single-handedly guided the South Koreans to a third-place finish. He was in fact the only player to score for the Asian Champions League winners from open play throughout the championship and he made sure that his trip to Abu Dhabi wasn’t flawed by converting his shoot-out spotkick against Atlante in the play-off.

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

There were fears that the Ballon d’Or winner might not even participate in the competition after picking up an injury prior to the team’s arrival in Abu Dhabi. The worst fears were compounded when he had to start the semi-final clash against Atlante on the bench. But after 53 minutes, ‘El Mesias’ was unleashed. Within two minutes of his introduction, he put his side into the lead against the Mexican. He again stamped his influence in the final against Estudiantes, showing his predatory skills – just as he did in the Champions League final – to score the winning goal in extra time. Officially named by FIFA as the player of the tournament.

Dec 20, 2009 8:56:30 AM

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has commented on German television that Italian striker Luca Tonican leave the club on a free transfer, to allow the Bundesliga giants to sever ties with the front-man.

Former Fiorentina forward Toni has been in dispute with coach Louis van Gaal for almost the entire campaign, and after the forward commented that he wanted to leave the club the Dutch disciplinarian made it clear that Toni would not feature for the club again.

Now Hoeness has stated on DSF Doppelpass that the player will be allowed to leave the club on a free in order to remove the striker from the wage bill.

He insisted, “If necessary, we will require no transfer fee [for Luca Toni]. We want to have peace on this issue. We still have no concrete offer, although we are willing to lend him on a free transfer or free.”

Goal.com Germany also comments that legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had offered his services as a mediator between club and player, to initiate discussions, but Van Gaal would not entertain the striker.

Toni will want to secure a move from the Allianz Arena as soon as possible in order to maintain his chances of being included in the Italy World Cup squad for next summer’s tournament in South Africa.