Today's Papers / Top Dog / 21 December 2007 / 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

Top Dog

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:

Top Dog shouldn't have any worries after tipping Everton to win in Holland at 4.9 yesterday, but still wonders exactly what Peter Crouch is thinking of? He's all over the papers complaining that John Obi Mikel rolled around after his ridiculous red card tackle at Stamford Bridge. "There are no excuses for the tackle I made" says Crouch - and then immediately starts making excuses! "Mikel came in with his studs up first and obviously I've lost my head - but if the referee had pulled up the first foul it wouldn't have happened." Right. So it was the referee's fault.

Cruft's:

Daily Mirror -- Lo£tus Road - Chief Sports Writer Oliver Holt talks to Bernie Ecclestone about his plans for Queens Park Rangers now Britain's richest man Lakshmi Mittal has joined the investors at Loftus Road. QPR may be bottom of the Championship but they are [7] for relegation and any bet to lay them less than [690] has already been matched. Expect a big January spending spree - and in Ecclestone's view they are currently just 14 points from a play-off place! Promotion price is [18.5]

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mirror - Ramos warns Arsenal: You don't frighten me - First shots in the North London derby with Spurs boss Juande Ramos recounting getting hit by a concrete filled bottle in a horrific incident in the Seville derby with Real Betis. He's far more likely to be hit by a goals avalanche at The Emirates. Arsenal are [1.53] a home win

Daily Mirror - King injury blow rocks Spurs - Bad news for Tottenham fans that Ledley King has suffered another injury breakdown. Doubts now whether the 27-year-old will play again this season

Daily Star - Carry on Svending says City chief - Mexican striker Nery Castillo completes his move to Eastlands and owner Thaksin Shinawatra is promising another £30million of transfer cash to Sven Goran Eriksson in January. Top Dog fancies a few pennies on City as FA Cup winners at [44]

Daily Star - We got shot of flop Bruce and made £3m profit - Top Dog is a loyal and faithful servant to his master, but probably wouldn't be if he was owned by David Sullivan! The Birmingham owner thanks Steve Bruce for six mostly successful years by rubbishing him. Birmingham are [4.7] to prove Sullivan's point they are better off with Alex McLeish in charge by winning at Bolton tomorrow

Dog' s dinner:

The Sun - Masked raider - Weird picture of Darren Bent in a balaclava goes with a weirder story suggesting West Ham boss Alan Curbishley wants to buy his old Charlton striker. Spurs are far more likely to sell Jermain Defoe

The Sun - Klin for me - Rafa Benitez is telling Phil Thomas in Liverpool that he wants to see out the next four years on his contract and even sign another one, while Shaun Custis is still trying to justify his old story that Liverpool's owners want Jurgen Klinsmann. A confusing back page.

The Sun - Roy: I'll Sav you - Martin Blackburn says Roy Keane will swoop for Robbie Savage, then immediately confirms Blackburn won't sell and the fiery midfield man doesn't want to go!

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Crouch puts his foot in it again - David Bentley interview - focus on QPR's new billionaire investor - Fa farce over Burton - Vaughan to be

Daily Express - Foreign divers taking Mikel - FA sure there is no sleaze - Terrific Tevez in pole position - Torres says Premier League is better than La Liga - Harry: I was right to gamble on African players - We're not missing you one bit, Bruce - Nery Castillo interview

Daily Star - Sven's got job for life - Chelsea row with FA - Champions League draw preview - Essien's threat to Premier clubs - Oba to go out with a bang

Daily Mirror - Crouch: Obi took the Mik - Anderson is Keane and Scholes in one says Ronaldo - Vaughan winner - Carson did us a favour says Sullivan

Daily Mail - Crouch fires back - Guide to the Champions League draw - Fergie warns Evans - Bruce exit good for us says Sullivan - Vaughan makes it perfect for Everton - Yes to the £80m England centre - Collins' walk-out may alert Fulham

Tags: Betfair's Top Dog, January transfer window, Premiership relegation