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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:

Strong stuff from Jamie Redknapp in all the papers - except the Daily Mail where he's a regular columnist! The others have got hold of Jamie's Sky TV criticism of Rafa Benitez' rotation policy and boiled it down to a blunt: 'Liverpool will never win the League with Rafa.' They certainly won't this season, that's for sure. And meanwhile with more takeover talk (see below) the Anfield boss is [3.05] favourite to be the next managerial change.

Cruft's:

Daily Star - We can't drop one more point - Ryan Giggs spells out how tough the title will be for United, especially now Arsenal's win last night stretches their lead to five points. Giggs says United can't drop another point. But with the Gunners still to play they could do that, and at [3.2] still aren't out of the race. Arsenal have shortened to [1.78]

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Express - Pulis pours scorn on Saints bid - Stoke boss Tony Pulis insists that he'll stay loyal to his club's promotion campaign. But don't rule out a move to St Mary's in the summer if he doesn't make it to the promised land of the Premier League. And expect him to wind his Stoke side up tonight to show Saints how good he can be! With one defeat in 15 Stoke are [1.9] to win tonight

Daily Mail - Pride and joy - Manchester man Ian Ladyman writes a good think piece on Manchester City's steps forward as a club and where they might go next. He also reveals Didi Hamann is on the verge of signing a new contract. City are now [2.52] a top six finish

Daily Star - Yak back in attack - David Moyes has made his point over Yakubu's late return from Africa and got away with it because he was only playing Reading at the weekend. But the other Everton players wanted Yakubu back in the squad and he'll play in the UEFA Cup in Brann tomorrow. The Toffees are [1.75] to win there

The Sun - Sheikh, rattle and dole - More rumblings that the Dubai sheikhs are getting closer to taking over Liverpool, and a suggestion that if they do they won't want Rafa Benitez as boss. It won't help Liverpool's hopes of finishing in the top four. They are [1.65] to lay

Daily Mirror - Wor Kev: I'm poor Kev - Kevin Keegan is telling Newcastle owner Mike Ashley he's got to spend big money or he can't expect to turn Toon's fortunes round. Trouble is when Keegan had big money to spend in January the big player he went for chose to go to Spurs instead. No wonder Kev is the other favourite to lose his job first at [5.1]

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Express - Whelan breaks ranks - Look at the back page headline and Harry Harris has scored a great scoop getting Wigan chairman Dave Whelan to be the first club chairman to come out against the Premier League's '39th game'. But turn to page 59 and the actual quote is: "I am sitting on the fence." It leaves the start of the Express crusade against the plan with a fairly bent and rusty sword!

The Sun - Fergie's £40m Lyon raid - Antony Kastrinakis reckons Manchester United want to buy Lyon's Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa. Oh, and if you read on to the turn page Chelsea and Arsenal want them too.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Five Done it! - Return to Sender - D-day for Robbo - Ian Wright column - Giggs verdict on United defeat - Sven's City money worries

Daily Express - Gunners pull away - Adebayor the top Gunner - Don't dare count us out says Malouda - Alan Curbishley column - We have to win the lot says Giggs - Kick out the 39th step campaign - Coventry eye Pearson - Vaughan is kept in Everton waiting room

Daily Star - Hey Big Sender! - Hero Phil sends 'em five clear - Gerro: I'm up four a fight - Richard Dunne on City win - Neville: I'll return from injury hell - Chelsea chase van der Vaart - Toon still look to Al - Pearson favourite for Sky Blues - Alves told to wait

Daily Mirror - Phil Yer Boots - Catch us if you can say Gunners - Sven says derby defeat has wrecked United title dream - Redknapp on Rafa - Coventry want Pearson - Chelsea target Rafael van der Vaart.

Daily Mail - Even Soho Square are against Scudamore's daft plan - We're Gunner win it - Bentley won't hear the jeers - Shearer back on Keegan radar - Robson spared Dowie's fate for now - Yakubu on Norway trip after apology - Upson winning the mind games - Irish to unveil Trapattoni

Tags: Jamie Redknapp comments, Premiership betting, Rafa Benitez