Today's Papers / Top Dog / 09 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.

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: Manchester United are almost unbackable at [1.05] to join Liverpool and Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals but there are words of caution from Sir Alex Ferguson. 'In football you can be the best team and lose. I've seen it happen time and time again'. Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre are both in Fergie's squad to face Roma tonight. United are [2.94] to win the trophy now, with their probably semi-final opponents Barcelona [4.7]. Liverpool remain the outsiders of the English teams at [4.9] despite their amazing late win over Arsenal.

Cruft's: Daily Mirror- Sven's reward for keeping it clean - Now we know the real reason Manchester City have started stepping back and letting the other team trample all over them. It's a cunning plot to get into Europe through the Fair Play League! Alan Nixon reveals the up to date table which gives City a ticket to the UEFA Cup as England will get the guaranteed fair play place. Wigan were rivals until Jason Koumas and Wilson Palacios got sent off. Good news for Sunderland who are [2.4] to be the latest to benefit from Sven's nice people this weekend!

Daily Mail - Capello family in tax probe - Top Dog has always feared this story wouldn't go away quietly, and now from Italy comes more developments in the investigation into Fabio Capello's tax affairs. Nick Pisa reports from Rome that the England manager's wife and sons are due to be questioned about claims that he avoided £12million in tax by using offshore accounts.

Pedigree Chum: Daily Star - Cech facing a quick return - With yet another goalkeeping crisis looming for Chelsea last night after Carlo Cudicini was injured, news from Stamford Bridge that Petr Cech is preparing to wear a mask and skull cap and could play again in two weeks. A full set of body armour might be a good idea too for the accident prone keeper!! Blues are now [4.3] to win the Champions League and [3.95] the Premier League title

Daily Star - Keegan out to net Metz - The summer will be a massive test of whether Kevin Keegan can still attract big players. Newcastle are said to be looking at Real Madrid's £10m rated Germany defender Christoph Metzelder. Meanwhile the Toon, who couldn't win a game for love or money a week or so ago, are now as short as [3.65] to get another three points at Portsmouth on Saturday.

The Sun - What a bleeding awful way to have your heart broken - Steven Howard best sums up the sheer drama of last night's Champions League semi-final. One minute Theo Walcott had enjoyed his Michael Owen moment and was going to be the hero, the next it was all Liverpool's glory again. How can Arsenal recover from that? They are now [3.3] and lengthening a top two finish.

Daily Mirror - Roma: We were wrong - Roma coach Luciano Spalletti has apologised on behalf of his players who labelled Cristiano Ronaldo a big head after the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, and promises there will be no attempts at physical revenge. United are [1.72] to win on the night, and [2.86] to be ahead at half time and full time.

Dog' s dinner: Daily Mirror - Petrov: Fifth place stil our goal - Stiliyan Petrov reckons Villa can still pinch fifth place and a UEFA Cup spot. Even sixth will be a struggle after Pompey's win at West Ham last night, and Villa are still worth laying at [3.6] to finish that high.

Today's other headlines: The Sun - Pen 'n stink - I'm Rafa winitez - Ballack a belter - Fergie hoping for the worst - Niko nicks it

Daily Express - Kop a load of Gerrard - Ballack leads Chelsea charge - A Torr de force for Benitez - Ballack head start is how to talk Turkey - Cech vows he will not be scarred - Alan Curbishley column - Fergie serves up sauce for Italians - Niko makes 'Arry's night

Daily Star - Gerro takes spot prize - Blues seal Kop crunch - Rafa's Anfield aces are 4-some - Turks hit by Bal breaker - Fergie: Win, then dream - Niko nails Hammers

Daily Mirror - Torn to shreds - Lampard lights up Bridge - Kop kings of Europe - A sense of Deja Blue - Do I look bovvered askes Ronaldo - Harry has plenty to Cro about

Daily Mail - Kop cracker - Wenger sunk by red tide - Ballack now the head boy - Keeper curse not so hilarious for nervy Grant - Park's double talk says it all for coy Fergie - Niko makes it a happy return for Redknapp - Phillips rides to Albion's rescue

Tags: Barcelona, Champions League Betting, Man City, Man Utd, Premier League Betting