SVEN TO BE SACKED

Sven-Goran Eriksson is to be sacked as manager of Manchester City at the end of the season, it is being reported today.

Club owner, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, took the decision after watching City throw away a 2-0 lead to be beaten by relegation candidates Fulham at the weekend.

Eriksson took charge of City at the start of the season and a great start took them to third in the table in November.

The former-England boss also master-minded two wins over bitter rivals United. But City's form has faltered in the second half of the season and City have dropped out of contention for a European place.

The decision is said to have been met with shock and again from the players, and a similar reaction can be expected from fans who generally are pleased with the progress the club has made under the Swede.

RONALDO WINS PFA AWARD

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named PFA player of the year.

The Manchester United star, who has scored 38 goals this season, beat the likes of Fernando Torres and Emmanuel Adebayor to the award.

But he was beaten to the young player of the year award by Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The Portuguese international did not attend the ceremony as he prepares for United's Champions League semi-final second leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

TITLE RACE GOING TO THE WIRE

Chelsea's 2-1 win over Manchester United leaves the two sides level on points with just two games remaining, and the race to be crowned Premier League champions looks set to go down to the very last game of the season.

United will win the title if they beat West Ham at home and Wigan away, as they have vastly superior goal difference than Chelsea.

But the momentum is now with the Blues after Michael Ballack's controversial 86th minute penalty secured the win they needed to put the pressure on defending champions United.

Chelsea have a trip to Newcastle before hosting relegation-threatened Bolton in what could be a massive end of season decider at both ends of the table.

Matchwinner Ballack dedicated the win to Frank Lampard after he missed the game following the death of his mother this week.

NO NEED FOR NOMINATIONS?

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the nominations for this year's PFA players' player and young player of the year awards - and surely there is no need to even look at the other nominees.

The 23-year old has scored 37 goals already this season and has to be a good bet to go and inspire Manchester United to Premier League and Champions League success this season.

Ronaldo is surely also a dead cert for FIFA world player of the year after missing out to Brazilian starlet Kaka last year.

The other nominations in the PFA players' player category are the Fernando Torres, who must be his only rival for the award after a superb first season in the Premier League, his Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard, Arsenal duo Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor, and Portsmouth keeper David James.