Betfair Official Blog

Football Betting: Top Dog

Betfair's newshound sniffs around the truth behind the latest tabloid tales.

• Cruft's champion - Top stories that can dominate the news agenda
• Pedigree chum - Insights that tell you something you don't know
• Dog's dinner - Speculation, guesswork, or ideas that just don't come off

Top Dog says:

John Arne Riise's late own goal might not have been quite as devastating to Fleet Street as it was to those who'd backed a Liverpool win at [1.01], but it still meant a lot of work rewriting the match reports. The Sun's headline writers reacted best with the banner: 'You Riise pudding!' Chelsea are now [1.55] to clinch the place in Moscow for the final, and [2.34] to do it in style with a win at home next Wednesday.

Crufts:

Daily Star - Forget 1999 and write new legend - Sir Alex sets the mood for Manchester United's trip to Barcelona. Last season his team ran out of steam at this stage against Milan. This time they're fully fit and raring to go. United look good value at [3.15] to win in the Nou Camp, and Top Dog likes the look of [10.0] for them to do it with the only goal.

Daily Star - Juve Flam the flames - David Woods reveals that Arsenal fear their contract offer to Mathieu Flamini won't be accepted. There's quotes from Juventus director Jean-Claude Blanc confirming they want the French midfield man who was a Juventus supporter as a boy. Gunners are now [4.1] a top two finish.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Express - Xavi: We'd make Ronaldo better - Interesting stuff from Barcelona midfield man Xavi on the differences between football in Spain and England. He claims Ronaldo would become an even better player if he moved. Presumably that means he would lay Ronaldo at [2.76] to score in the Nou Camp this evening!

Daily Mirror - Sir Alex praying it won't get Messi - Top Dog likes Sir Alex Ferguson's psychology. Asked in the pre-match press conference how he planned to stop Lionel Messi, he broke into a broad smile and said 'You can answer that one' to Nemanja Vidic who was sitting alongside him! Messi is [3.6] to score at the Nou Camp tonight.

Daily Mirror - £5m Sidwell to replace Barry - James Nursey's story that Villa want Steve Sidwell as a replacement for Gareth Barry is half right. They actually want him whether Barry goes or not. Martin O'Neill was favourite to sign the midfielder on a free from Reading last summer before Chelsea stepped in.

The Sun - Dean and Green to cash in - Word from Upton Park is that while Hammers are looking to cut their wage bill this summer they will offer new deals to goalkeeper Robert Green and striker Dean Ashton, putting both into the £40,000 a week bracket. Ashton especially has been worried by lack of contract talks all season. Alan Curbishley's side are still struggling at the moment and look worth laying at [2.64] against Newcastle on Saturday

Daily Express - Sponsors write big pay Cech - He may not have kept a clean sheet at Anfield and so cost Top Dog some cash, but Petr Cech is in the money. Harry Harris reveals the Chelsea goalkeeper has signed new sponsorship deals with Samsung and Adidas that together are worth up to £5million a year. A clean sheet against Manchester United is [2.9]

Daily Mirror - Axed ref Rob pays penalty - Good news for Premier League fans as referee Rob Styles is axed from the list after a series of blunders. Bad news if you support Shrewsbury or Chester - he's been demoted to your big derby this weekend!

Dog' s Dinner:

The Sun - Terry Venables column - Former England boss Venables usually offers some incisive thoughts, but this one looks as if it might have been 'ghosted' without his input! Tells you nothing you don't already know about Barcelona and Manchester United

The Sun - Toon barmy - Former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble has a go at the Toon Army, accusing them of getting Sam Allardyce the sack and failing to support him when he was there. Given his regular mistakes it was hardly surprising!

Today's Other Headlines:

The Sun - Arney agony - You Riise pudding! - Tom foolery puts Kop slap bang on back foot - Don't blow it again warms Fergie - Wolves in the hunt

Daily Express - Riise the Kop fall guy - Rooney vow to be best ever - Grant saved by Riise error - Fortune does brave Avram a big favour - Hicks in town to face Anfield rap - Wolves pound on off-colour Cardiff - Go and make your own history says Fergie

Daily Star - Av takes the Riise - Avram hopes on the Riise - Chelsea get present for the future - Sylvan on target to tear strip off Cardiff - Messi: Don't be fooled by form

Daily Mirror - Head case - Kop Riise and fall - No Mour doubting Grant as Blues end their Kop misery - Sir Alex praying it won't get Messi - Wolves at the door

Daily Mail - Nightmare for Riise - Riise's howler stuns Rafa - Wily Hicks joins Kop chorus line - Will Avram have the last laugh - Let's make history says Fergie - Kightly comeback gives Wolves hope