Today's Papers / Top Dog / 11 April 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

Betfair's Top Dog sniffs around the truth behind the latest tabloid tales

Betfair's top dog 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:

Big problems behind the scenes at Anfield this morning. They may have won a thrilling Champions League quarter-final, but that has only sounded the battle cry for more fighting in the boardroom. Tom Hicks is demanding that Chief Executive Rick Parry must quit, Parry says he's going nowhere, and the Dubai Investment Capital people have pulled out of talks for the time being. It's no way to run a club, that's for sure! Liverpool are now [4.9] outsiders to win the Champions League. They might just be worth laying at [1.55] against Blackburn on Sunday if Rafa rotates the squad again.

Cruft's:

Daily Express - McLeish keeps eye on the ball - Birmingham have got caught up in the football bungs saga after Karren Brady and David Sullivan were arrested yesterday and quizzed over payments to an agent and two players nearly five years ago. Manager Alex McLeish says he'll use it to help create a siege mentality and make the team stronger. Birmingham, without a defeat at home in five games, look value at [3.1] to beat Everton tomorrow.

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - A cut above - The Sun get the first picture of Petr Cech back in training complete with nasty scar from his mouth to his chin. It does mean he could be playing by the time the Champions League first leg at Anfield on April 22 comes round. Chelsea are [1.93] favourites to go through

The Sun - Blues hunt £20m Villa but refuse to back Av - Ian McGarry reveals that Chelsea have started talks to buy Valencia's David Villa, giving more evidence that Didier Drogba is on his way out. But chairman Bruce Buck has refused to back Avram Grant. 'I think it is a yes or no question and I won't give you a yes or no answer', he says.

Daily Mail - Andy Townsend column - The Mail use their two big gun columnists Jamie Redknapp and Andy Townsend wisely, and this is just the day to get the former Republic of Ireland captain and now ITV's voice of the Champions League to take an overview of the semi-final line-up. He picks out the reasons why Barcelona are a spent force. Betfair punters agree with him - United are as short as [1.65] to reach the final.

Daily Mail - Gareth to skip a skipper - Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate is thinking of doing away with the role of club captain, as everybody he chooses for the job seems to immediately lose his place in the team! Interesting idea - Boro are [5.7] to win at Spurs tomorrow

Daily Express - Pompey on a winner - Everything in the FA Cup seems to be on Harry Redknapp's side. His team have even won the toss-up for choice of colours, dressing room and end at Wembley for the final against Cardiff on May 17. Hardly surprising they are now [1.39] to win the Cup

Daily Mirror - You won't drag me down - Gary Megson hits back at supporters who have been blaming him for the club's slide back towards relegation. Trotters' only hope is that they've got Kevin Nolan back from suspension this week, but they look worth laying at [2.2] against West Ham, and are now [1.27] to go down

Daily Star - Waltz-cott's Fabio call-up - Danny Fullbrook reckons Theo Walcott will play in Fabio Capello's next side when England face the USA after impressing the boss with that dazzling run to set up a goal on Tuesday night.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mirror - O'Neill to fight Chelsea on Barry - James Nursey says Aston Villa will fight to stop Gareth Barry joining Chelsea, and then admits there's no evidence at all that the Blues even want to sign him. A peculiar story

Daily Star - Harry set for £10m Crouch swoop - More transfer speculation, this time that Portsmouth want Peter Crouch in the summer. It might happen, but then again it might not!

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - All-out war - Rafa's a winner in Anfield politics - United are great but we're better says Eto'o - Hargo to be the hero - Michael Essien interview

Daily Express - Anfield at war - Neville: Barca tie will thrill - Jens lets rip at Wenger - Owen after Nou result this time - No joke as Hicks drops another clanger - Coppell working another miracle

Daily Star - Kop civil war - Henry: we'll attack United - I'll be Bayern again champ says Owen Hargreaves - Jens: I would've stopped Arsenal collapse

Daily Mirror - Anfield at war - Barca will beat United the Boro way says Thierry Henry - How ANfield's dream team became a bitter soap opera - Blues mind games

Daily Mail - Anfield at war - Bring on the sexy football - Brady 'is innocent' - Get off our backs says Megson - Lehmann: I'd have saved us from going out - Buck blasts the fans - Day in the life of a budding referee

Tags: Champions League football, Karen Brady arrest, Rick parry