Today's Papers / Top Dog / 24 March 2008 / 1 Comments " 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:

The people doing the PR for the FA's Respect the Ref campaign must love Javier Mascherano. After Ashley Cole raised the issue to the top of the agenda last week, along comes the Liverpool midfield man to make it an even bigger talking point. Someone at Soho Square has clearly briefed all the papers that he can expect more than just the automatic one match suspension that normally follows a sending off for two yellow cards. The FA want to make an example of him for refusing to leave the field. Talk is of anything from one extra game out to four. How badly could that hit Liverpool? They are still [1.25] a top four finish with Everton just two points behind them.

Cruft's:

The Sun - Sorry Rafa you've got it wrong - The Sun handles the Mascherano story best with a picture graphic showing his first booking and the five further occasions the Argentine deserved a yellow card before he finally made it six and out.

Daily Mirror - Big Four is now Big Two - The Mirror puts Mascherano on the back page but doesn't ignore the real consequence of Grand Slam Sunday - the title race is now between Manchester United and Chelsea. If you followed Top Dog's tip to lay Arsenal for a top two finish, and to back Chelsea for the title when they were as long as 9, you can start locking in some profit. The Gunners are now [2.26] the top two, while Chelsea are in to [5.5] for the title. United are even shorter favourites at [1.32]

Daily Mirror - You are the weakest link, Diouf - At the other end of the table more signs of trouble for Bolton. Alan Nixon reveals that the club's senior players have accused El Hadji Diouf of hiding as the relegation battle hots up. Gary Megson's side are now [1.79] to go down.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Express - Beckham: I will not start - The David Beckham circus is setting up camp again around England as Goldenballs prepares to get his 100th cap. Express Sports Editor Bill Bradsahw reports that Beckham told other passengers on his flight home from LA that he doesn't expect to start Wednesday's game in Paris, but hopes to get on at some time for his 100th cap.

The Sun - Becks party -Meanwhile Shaun Custis says Becks has plans to make sure his extended family are all in the Stade de France on Wednesday to see his magic moment if it does happen. England are [3.4] to celebrate the occasion with a win.

Daily Mail - Rooney's a turn-up for the boss - While other papers raise doubts over Wayne Rooney's fitness, the Mail's Matt Lawton confirms that he turned up for England duty last night still hoping to play. Frank Lampard is also an injury doubt

Daily Mirror - Jewell backed in sex video storm - As if Paul Jewell didn't have enough problems, a six-year-old sex video of him with a secret mistress turned up in yesterday's News of the World. Credit James Nursey of the Mirror for doing the checks with Derby chairman Adam Pearson that it won't affect Jewell's job prospects, even though his price in the managerial change market shortened to [1.67] yesterday

Daily Mirror - Stay the lad - Kevin Keegan is trying to convince his Newcastle owners to start contract talks with Michael Owen as soon as possible. Owen's people denied stories a few weeks ago that he'd asked for a pay rise. His goals are the best way to make sure he gets one!

Daily Star - Aaron can't end it like Beckham - David Woods picks up a good point from Tottenham's 2-0 win over Portsmouth. While Becks is back for his 100th cap what has happened to the little winger everybody wanted to replace him with during the last World Cup? Aaron Lennon isn't delivering enough quality at the end of his dazzling runs. As Woods says: 'If he played noughts and crosses, he'd only fill in the noughts'

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Express - ITV beat Beeb in Europe - As far as Top Dog was aware, ITV announced on air that they'd won rights to show the Champions League. So quite how Harry Harris can then claim the story as 'exclusive' is a bit of a mystery.

Daily Mirror - Stan Collymore column - This is starting to be unbelievably dull every Monday. A good column raises fresh issues, but Stan is just going over old ground every week

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Dumbest man on the planet - Why did he Jav to get involved - Hot Drog's after Fegie - Gun to Pot - 28 page Super Goals pull-out - Owen's deep joy

Daily Express - Monster Masch - Drogba told: it's about time too - Reds rivalry has run out of juice - Bennett applies right remedy for Mascherano madness - Grant turns the jeers to cheers - Wenger cannot bank on success - Reading's racing Bikey - Darren hell-Bent on avoiding sub role - Championship match reports

Daily Star - Mad Masch - Didier's double - at last - Fergie loves joy of specs - Crock Roo's facing KO - Av's magic show did the trick - Time's up for Weng as Guns blow title - Sort out Owen deal now - Reading's Bikey ride to survival

Daily Mirror - Masch blast - Big Four is now Big Two - Heading for the title - Mascherano's only crime is stupidity - Kiss of life for Chelsea - Kiss of death for Arsenal - Roo blow for Fabio - 20 page Football Mania pull-out

Daily Mail - No respect - Lay off Gallas fumes Drogba - Graham Poll on the weekend refereeing debates - Owen settles Toon nerves - Time running out for Bolton - Lean Dean aims to be England goal machine - Bentley's country drive lifting Rovers

Tags: Mascherano sending-off, Premiership winner, Steve Bennett