Today's Papers / Top Dog / 17 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:

Top Dog still likes the idea of laying No Change in the managerial change market at [1.9]. Sven Goran Eriksson and Avram Grant are both under heavy pressure - although the Mirror's story yesterday that Grant will be staying is backed up by all the papers today. The Chelsea boss himself has come out fighting, insisting that nobody could have done a better job taking over from Jose Mourinho. Grant is raising the chance of buying a Kaka or Messi this summer. It won't help him in the short term, though. Chelsea go to Everton tonight with their title chances disappearing - they are [14.5] to win it now - and Grant's only hope of a trophy is the Champions League. Would you fancy them to win a big game against Liverpool under Grant? They are [1.94] to reach the final. And if Roman Abramovich is suddenly looking at a season without a trophy will his faith in his manager be changed?

Cruft's:

Daily Mail - Sven could walk before he's pushed - The Mail's Manchester man Ian Ladyman has been consistently ahead of the game on Eastlands politics all season and says Sven Goran Eriksson won't hang around to wait for Thaksin Shinawatra to sack him. The former Thai Prime Minister has been making noises about wanting big improvements. Eriksson is [11.5] in the managerial change market and at that price could be worth a punt to go before the end of the season

Daily Mail - Cruyff rips into United - Ladyman is on form today at both his big clubs - he's got quotes from legend Johann Cruyff about how Barcelona can beat Manchester United in the Champions League. Barca are [2.56] to win the first leg in the Nou Camp next Wednesday

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - £80,000. Grant fines rebel for talking to The Sun - Tal Ben Haim finds out the cost of having a moan about Chelsea's manager. The Israeli will collect a club fine for his quotes in yesterday's paper and definitely WON'T figure in the team at Everton tonight.

The Sun - You're really four it - Phil Neville talks about Everton's dismal record against the big four clubs - just one point from six matches against them this season. Phil wants a win at Goodison tonight to hand his brother the title. Everton are as long as [3.85] to win, while Chelsea are [2.24]. Given Grant's record of failing to win key fixtures that could be worth laying

The Sun - Ireland in £8m move - Neil Custis claims Manchester City are looking to sell Stephen Ireland. Significantly there have been no talks on a new contract to extend his current deal that expires next summer. Sunderland are likely to be interested

Daily Express - O'Neill battles to keep his skipper - Martin O'Neill has already begun talks with Gareth Barry and his agent to agree a new contract and head off interest from Liverpool and Chelsea this summer. Important for Villa who are [1.8] to beat big rivals Birmingham on Sunday

Daily Mirror - Ryan Giggs exclusive interview- Interesting stuff from United's veteran Welsh star on how the current squad compares with those that have gone before.

Daily Mirror - £80k a week boys under the Hammer - John Cross reports that Alan Curbishley is under pressure to slash West Ham's wage bill this summer. That leaves biggest earners Freddie Ljungberg, Lucas Neill and Kieron Dyer headed for the exit door

Dog' s Dinner:

Daily Mirror - Strachan's first pick for Benfica - Alan Nixon stories tend to be either brilliantly right or bordering on fiction. Top Dog thinks this effort, claiming Benfica want Gordon Strachan as their next boss, comes in the second category.

Today's Other Headlines:

The Sun - Fergie's wish list - Eriksson axe fear - Not even the Prime Minister would believe the job I've done claims Grant - Anderson interview - Shinawatra warns Sven

Daily Express - Grant plans to spend big - Thank me for job well done pleads Grant - Moyes has plans for a Yak attack - United goal king Law hails Ronaldo - Life and death battles leave mark on Fabio - City kids are youth cup heroes - Waddock happy to call the shots again

Daily Star - I'll get us out of the Kaka - Fab: Double is United's - You Av got £100m to make us great again - Yak'll whack 'em - Sven's facing Thak at City - Keano: I won't waste £40m

Daily Mirror - I'll give Sven the sack - Boom and bust for Grant - Howard vow to wreck Chelsea - Arsenal's kids needed the old guard says Lauren

Daily Mail - I got Chelsea out of a mess says Grant - A matter of life or death is humbling for Fabio - Shots are back in the big time

Tags: Avram Grant, Football Betting, Managerial Change, Premier League, Sven Goran Eriksson