Today's Papers / Top Dog / 07 January 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

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:

Rafa Benitez may have survived an FA Cup trip to Kenilworth Road but will he survive for much longer as boss of Liverpool? The Mail and Express both report that Chief Executive Rick Parry is flying to America tomorrow for a meeting with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. It's supposed to be about plans for a new stadium, but John Edwards in the Mail and Paul Joyce in the Express - both based in the North West - say the manager's future will be added to the agenda. The other three tabloids left their Luton coverage completely to London-based reporters who don't mention the meeting. The Sunday papers were briefed by "friends" of Benitez that he thinks he'll get sacked in the summer. Will it happen sooner? He's [3.0] to be next manager out in the newly formed Managerial Change market, with Big Sam Allardyce the favourite at [2.02].

Cruft's:

It's not one of Fleet Street's finest days! Top Dog can't find a single story worth including here.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Armband affair leaves captain Cole fuming - A picture special highlights Avram Grant's mysterious decision to make Ashley Cole his captain, and then force him to hand over the armband to Didier Drogba after an hour. As a way of humiliating the £20million plus England full back it was even better than leaving him out of the squad at Fulham even though Wayne Bridge was injured.

Daily Star - Jewell gets Laur-maker - Derby boss Paul Jewell will sign Lauren Robert tomorrow to go with new Argentine striker Emanual Villa and has confirmed he's in the chase for Robbie Savage. Good news for the Rams who went 2-0 down against Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday but don't expect it to save their season. With only seven points in the Premier League so far they still look good value to sell at 18 points.

Daily Express - Bolton eye Cisse to replace Anelka - Tony Banks says former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse is being lined up by Bolton for when they sell Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea. Cisse is on the fringes of Marseille's squad after a dip in form, and is also wanted by Blackburn. Bolton, looking increasingly safe, are also close to signing Portsmouth's Matt Taylor

Daily Express - Rooney, and then some others - John Wragg was a bit more imaginative than most by getting former England boss Graham Taylor to tell him what Fabio Capello would have thought of those on show at Villa Park. A good read, even though all it really tells you is what we already knew - Wayne Rooney's our best player.

The Sun - Juane chases £8m Ben Haim - Andrew Dillon says Tottenham are ready to pay £8million for Chelsea's former Bolton centre half Tal Ben Haim who will slip out of the Stamford Bridge picture following the arrival of Branislav Ivanovic. Ramos has worked out what we all knew - a defender is his priority.

Dog' s dinner:

Maybe it's because all the top writers were out on the town at the Football Writers' Association's Gala Tribute Night with David Beckham. But none of the papers had much to offer beyond mostly predictable FA Cup match reports.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Mad as a Hatter - Sam's hanging on - 28 page Super Goals pull-out - Rovers and Owls stun big boys - more FA Cup reports

Daily Express - States of confusion - Big Sam breathes sigh of relief - Hodgson handed another headache - Wenger thanks his lucky stars - More FA Cup reports

Daily Star - Sam guys have all the luck - Rafa's praise for Cup flops - Jens is ready to make his move - 20 page Seriously Football pull-out - Wenger: we were lucky

Daily Mirror - Alive and kicking - Cruel Britannia - Riise own goal could save us says Luton boss Blackwell - Fabio whirlwind Premier tour - Hunt keeps door open to Black Cats - 20 page Football Mania pull-out - Stan Collymore column - more FA Cup reorts

Daily Mail - 70,000 snap up tickets for Fabio debut - Battle for survival - Sam storm clouds are lifting - Burnley in the red - Crumbs of comfort for Jewell - Rooney is Capello's class act - more Cup reports

Tags: Anelka, managerial change market, Premiership betting, Rafael Benitez