Today's Papers / Top Dog / 02 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.

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:

Sir Alex Ferguson is upset at the deathly hush at Old Trafford. Remember Roy Keane's rant about the prawn sandwich brigade? Carlos Tevez gave us the most bizarre goal celebration of the season by pulling out a dummy and sucking on it after scoring the winner against Birmingham. But far from a christening, Fergie says it was like a funeral as his side struggled to get the three points. The other three Champions League clubs are in mourning much more as Fergie's side remain [1.98] favourites to win the Premier League even though Arsenal [2.94] remain two points clear.

Cruft's:

Daily Mail - Eriksson waits for Thaksin to show him the money - Manchester man Ian Ladyman reveals City's expected January spending spree is in doubt. Sven Goran Eriksson has two lists of targets and doesn't know if he can chase the three top of the range players he wants or settle for bargains. Ladyman says the £800million of assets that will be freed up by Thaksin Shinawatra's election win in Thailand won't be available until after the transfer window closes. City are [2.78] to lay a top six finish

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mirror - Return of Kirk the crock - Chris Kirkland has been the great white hope of English goalkeeping for years but never been fit enough to find out how good he is. He's back at Anfield with Wigan tonight and admits he played so little when he was at Liverpool that Kop fans might not remember who he was! He's [13] to remind them by keeping a clean sheet!

Daily Mirror - Magpies ready to take off - Sam Allardyce leads the way in the clutching at straws department, claiming defeat to a late offside goal at Chelsea proved his team are just about to blossom. He said the same thing after winning by a dodgy injury time at Fulham and they proved his point by holding mighty Derby to a 2-2 draw. Newcastle are [2.4] to beat Manchester City tonight - Top Dog will be laying it

The Sun - Bentley's big deal - Martin Blackburn reveals David Bentley will have more talks to agree a new contract at Ewood Park. He's got more than three years left on his current deal but will get a bumper pay rise to keep him away from Chelsea and Atletico Madrid who are watching him closely.

Daily Star - Deano crisis talks - Duncan Wright looks to have been briefed by Dean Ashton's agents with a story that the West Ham striker is unhappy at being left out of Alan Curbishley's side at Arsenal. Talks over a new contract are due today but will raise the question of how much he's wanted. All the big clubs will be watching for the outcome. There are echos of the Carlos Tevez situation last year when the Argentine couldn't get in the team until after Christmas.

Daily Star - Grant double hint - Avram Grant admits he's interested in both Nicolas Anelka and Dimitar Berbatov. "Our strikers are doing well but a team like Chelsea should have more forwards" he says. Grant is beginning to show he's a proper manager after yesterday's half-time rant stirred his side up to win at Fulham. A top three finish should be even shorter than [1.66] that's on offer at the moment.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mirror - Roy aims to Kop Kewell - The Mirror's football spy column reckons Harry Kewell, out of contract at Anfield in the summer, will be Roy Hodgson's first signing. No chance. Now he's fit he's playing regularly, and even if Liverpool were willing to sell now there'd be bigger clubs paying far more money willing to sign him.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Fergie's Dumstruck - Title's in our hands says Wenger - Avram rocket brings lift-off - I want to be Sven says Big Sam - Kirk to dish out Kop KO - Roy Keane on Mark Hughes - 20 page Super Goals pull out

Daily Express - Dumb and Dummy - Wenger talks up chances - Colossal Laursen - That's for Phil says McFadden - Harry aims to set sail for Europe - You've got a dream job, Sam - Championship match reports

Daily Star - Dummies 1, Brummies 0 - Upson downs for Hammers - United boss blasts crowd - Roy kicked in the Ballacks - Copp's Hunt protest - McFadden tribute to O'Donnell - We can still Kop the crown says Mascherano - Big Sam's got a dream job says Sven

Daily Mirror - You suck (Fergie blast at fans) - Wenger will fight to the finish - Sven says anyone would want to manage Newcastle - Santa Cruz praises boss Hughes - Want-away Roberts stunned by £4million fee - 20 page Football Mania pull-out - Dimi stays at Spurs says Ramos - Grant gives Chelsea a rollicking

Daily Mail - Deathly hush - Another step closer for top Gunners - Avram rant - Juande's lesson - Sonko's off day