Today's Papers / Editor / 13 March 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 out 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:

Steven Gerrard always tells it straight, whether he's having a dig at Liverpool's poor League position or talking up their Champions League chances. Today he reckons the Reds are looking capable of getting to yet another final under Rafa Benitez and winning it too with Fernando Torres in form. Just as interesting is that Inter Milan's Patrick Vieira also rates Liverpool as likely visitors to Moscow. They are a good value [3.65] in advance of tomorrow's draw. Chelsea, who have already booked their Moscow suites in the best hotels, are [2.86]

Cruft's:

Daily Mirror - Blues can Av the last laugh - Chelsea now five points behind Arsenal after last night's 6-1 romp over Derby with a game in hand and the goal difference gap is closed a bit too. Mike Walters confirms what Top Dog has been saying for months, that Avram Grant's side have been value for money in the market for the Premier League title. They are now [5.2] after going out as much as 12 at one time. United remain [1.74] favourites with leaders Arsenal [4.4]

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - Henry: My hell - The Sun follows yesterday's revelations from Robert Pires that Thierry Henry is unhappy in Spain with quotes from the former Arsenal star confirming he misses his daughter Tea after his divorce from wife Claire Merry. Top Dog presumes the quotes come second hand from Spain because otherwise the Sun would have given them more space, but it's more confirmation of troubles at the Camp Nou.

Daily Star - Megson: This isn't the Dog and Duck XI - Gary Megson has left most of his first choice team at home to rest for facing Wigan in the League but insists the side he's taken to Portgual for tonight's UEFA Cup tie should be strong enough to have a chance. Sporting Lisbon are [1.29] to qualify and it's hard to argue with that logic. Megson says he took a similar line-up to Bayern Munich and got a draw but that was a group game and the German giants were also resting a lot of their first choice line-up.

Daily Express - I couldn't care less if we get Gunners - Patrice Evra starts winding up the taunts before tomorrow's Champions League draw insisting he'd be quite happy to face old foes Arsenal. Interesting that Chelsea are now favourites to be the best of the English teams left in at [2.86] while Fergie's lot are [2.88]

Dog's Dinner:

The Sun - Jose in the Inter frame - Ian McGarry gets in a muddle with a speculative piece that Jose Mourinho will be Inter Milan's target after Roberto Mancini said he'd be leaving the San Siro at the end of the season, but then quotes president Masssimo Moratti saying Mancini has changed his mind. But one thought: could the instability put Inter's giant Serie A lead at risk? They are [1.26] to win the domestic title

Daily Mirror/Daily Express - UEFA coverage - Nothing hurts newspapers as badly as extra time and penalties in night matches and the Mirror (whose deadlines are usually later) got caught out last night along with the Express who always struggle with first editions. Both papers land on breakfast tables across half the country with the words 'extra time being played' at the top of match reports when readers know that Everton and Spurs both went out hours ago. The papers that can adapt to late drama get a significant edge.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Trouble Dutch as PSV sink Spurs - Moyes in pens despair - South Grate - Franks a lot - Berbatov is a belter - Oh Moy - Megson lads won't Duck task - Two ton Phillips - Defoe double lifts Harry - Gerrard insists Kop are European giants

Daily Express - No one will stop Kop - Lampard is four-midable - Barry spot on to rescue lax Villa - Defoe's double puts paid to battling Brum - Arteta pputs Everton in with a shout - Berbatov goes the extra mile - League must come first says Megson - Pat on the back for Gerrard boys

Daily Star - Lamps in Ram raid - Defoe takes out Cup woe on Big Eck - Comeback ace Barry is spot on - Spurs take it on Chim - Frey's day after fine Art show - Vic wrecks Kev's night - Kop will be Euro kings

Daily Mirror - Stamford Bridge -- Art show for Moyes - Dimi gives Spurs fresh hope - Barry sticks boot into pal Southgate - Full four-ce Pompey joy - Stevie G: I've got that winning feeling again

Daily Mail - Euro anguish - Extra special Berbatov - Everton fight back to earn their chance - Dog and Duck? No it's Bolton on a Euro trip - Defoe back on track as Harry eyes Wembley - Palace spoil Phillips' goal joy - Barry on the spot to snatch a point - Lamps shining out - English side are top again says Fergie

Tags: chelsea, liverpool