Next Liverpool Manager: Rodgers a teetering favourite

The Betfair market on who will replace Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool manager continues to fluctuate, with Brendan Rodgers replacing Roberto Martinez as favourite and on Tuesday falling to 1.4640/85, before drifting back out to 1.728/11.

Rodgers' role reversal with Martinez occurred on Monday but gained more momentum on Tuesday due to both unverified speculation that he was being offered the job and the revelation that he was meeting his Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins.

The Welsh club have played down the reports, claiming that the appointment between the pair was scheduled prior to the fresh excitement surrounding the Anfield vacancy.

His continued occupation of the market lead - having at one stage been backed at 180.0179/1 - suggests both that punters aren't convinced and that Rodgers, who refused to talk to the Reds initially as they drew up the world's largest ever shortlist, might try to cause his bosses to soften his stance.

If Liverpool do eventually act, Jenkins appears likely to put up more resistance than Dave Whelan, who not only permitted Martinez to woo John Henry and Tom Werner, but also unhelpfully gives Sky Sports News daily updates, often inaccurate, on the progression of negotiations.

Given that the Spaniard is yet to offer any indication that his interest in working on Merseyside has wavered, his inflated odds of 3.39/4 because of the Rodgers' movement might be worth investing in, as of the duo he boasts two years more Premier League experience.

While the uncertainty over the position is as palpable as at any part of the laboured recruitment process, one conclusion that can be drawn from the current state of the market is that there is an expectancy that one of those two will be chosen.

Third favourite Louis van Gaal is miles back at 19.537/2, and if it is true that he is being hired as a technical director, it is hard to see them allowing him to fulfil both roles having settled on such a structure.