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Top Dog's heart goes out to Frank Lampard and his family

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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's heart goes out to Frank Lampard this morning after the loss of his Mum. The Express's Nigel Clarke, a Fleet Street veteran who has been friends with Frank Lampard senior since his West Ham playing days, writes a superb piece. Lampard won't play at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, understandably.

Cruft's:

Daily Express - Yeung returns with old tricks up sleeve - Carson Yeung's failed takeover of Birmingham City probably caused them to be in such trouble at the bottom of the table. John Wragg reveals in an exclusive interview with co-owner David Sullivan that the Hong Kong businessman is back again this weekend wanting more talks. The last thing Blues need. They are as short as [2.86] to beat Liverpool's rotated team tomorrow, but off-field instability won't help. That could be the best lay of the day

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Rafa's hit list - The Mail's Mersey man John Edwards has been well up with the Anfield politics and reports that Liverpool's warring owners have agreed an uneasy truce that will help Rafa Benitez chase his summer transfer targets. He says they are Villa's Gareth Barry, Wigan's Antonio Valencia and Blackburn's David Dunn, as well as Borussia Dortmund defender Philipp Degen.

Daily Mail - United not yet semi-skilled - Ian Ladyman provides an incisive analysis into why Sir Alex Ferguson is still worried about his chances of reaching the Champions League final. United are [1.75] to qualify, but Ladyman argues they will have to keep the ball better at Old Trafford than they did in the Nou Camp

Daily Mirror - We'll win it at Chelsea - Sir Alex might be worried about Barcelona but he's talking tough on the trip to Stamford Bridge. 'They haven't lost in 100 games but records are there to be broken'. United are [3.2] to pull it off, and [9] to win by the only goal

Daily Star - Ballack: I'll stay for life - Michael Ballack puts the opposite view and says he wants to finish his career at Stamford Bridge. With no Lampard Chelsea will need his goals from midfield. They are [6.8] to win after being level at half time.

Daily Mail - Milan Mandaric interview - Leicester's owner opens up on where it's all gone wrong for him this season, and a promise that he won't walk out if things get worse. Leicester are [2.28] to beat Sheffield Wednesday at home tomorrow to secure their future in the Championship. Any other result and they are heading for relegation. They are a generous [5.3] to go down

Daily Express - A victory for Cardiff - Harry Harris reveals the FA board have decided Cardiff can be English when it comes to the UEFA Cup - if they beat Portsmouth at Wembley they'll get the European place. But they are Welsh when it comes to National Anthems: Land of my Fathers will be played before the game as well as God Save The Queen. The Bluebirds are [3.65] to be the first club from outside the top league to win the Cup since West Ham in 1980

Daily Mirror - Chris cross - Chris Coleman opens up on Fulham's problems. He worked on a shoestring and then watched the club blow £30m on players after he left. Manchester City are a generous [1.91] to inflict another defeat on The Cottagers tomorrow and send them down.

Daily Star- I don't know my best team - Reading's Steve Coppell is always honest, and after making six changes at Arsenal last week he's ready to rip up the team sheet and start again at Wigan. Steve Bruce's side look value at [2] the home win

Dog' s dinner:

The Sun - Toon want Thierry - This is one of those stories that starts to be repeated so often it ends up being believed. But while Kevin Keegan might like the idea of bringing Thierry Henry back to England at Newcastle, the former Arsenal star as already said he won't come back to anywhere but The Emirates.

Daily Star - £18m Drog raid - More Danny Fullbrook speculation from Spain. He claims Chelsea have put an £18m price tag on Didier Drogba after Real Madrid said they couldn't have Robinho in part exchange.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Ronaldo: I'll stop Barca boos - Nani on Ronaldo's heartbreak at penalty miss - Barcelona vow to wreck Fergie's Moscow dream - Toure wants Gallas job

Daily Express - Frank's agony - Ron will have final word - Southgate on missed penalties - Devastated Frank loses guiding light

Daily Star - Lamps out of battle at the Bridge - Rio wants to win a double - Milan Inter-ested in Hleb - Aurelio KO shock - Mart wants £80m kitty

Daily Mirror - Rafa boasts: I'm staying and I can buy five players - Ronnie: I will not bottle it next time - Barca gear up to wreck the dream - Ricardo Carvalho on Chelsea's title hopes - Happy days are Shear again

Daily Mail - I'm over my nightmare says Riise - Andy Townsend's Euro files - Lampard to miss United title showdown - Coppell survival plan is crystal clear - Megson warms to life in the line of fire - Rangers on a knife edge