Today's Papers / Top Dog / 19 February 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:

Top Dog warned yesterday to avoid backing Rafa Benitez as the next managerial change at an odds-on price of 1.8, and he's already drifted to [2.2]. He's in all this morning's papers pleading for more time as Liverpool line up to face Inter Milan in the Champions League. There's no doubt he's a man under pressure after the weekend's FA Cup exit but the uncertainty behind the club's ownership means there's not really anybody in a position to sack him straight away. That makes [4.8] for no further change in the Premier League managers before the end of the season the best value bet.

Cruft's:

Daily Mirror - Hart of England - The Mirror go strongest on Fabio Capello's hint in an Italian radio interview that he's willing to dump in-form David James from his side to face France in next month's friendly to have a look at Manchester City's Joe Hart.

The Sun - Lamps and Terry rested - The other papers all caught up with Chelsea's team story, but The Sun's Ian McGarry led the way from the first edition with the news that Avram Grant will rest John Terry and Frank Lampard from tonight's Champions League clash in Athens. A big gamble. Chelsea are [1.98] to beat Olympiacos, [3.4] the draw and [4.8] a home win

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - Unbeaten Inter ready to attack - Away from all the hype about Rafa Benitez and his job prospects, John Edwards sets out some hard facts. Inter Milan are unbeaten in 23 games in the Italian league and 11 points ahead of Roma. They have lost only three of their last 45 away games. Top Dog reckons that makes Liverpool, favourites to win tonight's Champions League clash, a must to lay at [2.78]

Daily Mail - Gallas sidesteps ban over Nani kick - Arsenal's title ambitions had already been hit a blow by a ban for Eboue for his sending off at Old Trafford. Quite how they got away without a second suspension for skipper William Gallas for kicking Nani, only referee Alan Wiley can answer. He viewed the video but 'was not satisfied it showed evidence of violent conduct'. It must have been a different clip to the one everybody else saw.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Star - King Arfa snub to Fergie - Bill Thornton reckons Lyon's star player Hatem Ben Arfa has hit Sir Alex Ferguson with a double whammy before tomorrow's Champions League clash. He says the French champions are as good as United, and he doesn't want to join them in the summer. Top Dog suspects Fergie won't be too bothered about either!

Daily Mirror - O'Neill tops hit list - If Rafa Benitez is going the Mirror have decided Martin O'Neill is the choice to replace him. But who's choice? The Americans? Or the Arabs? The Mirror don't make it clear which means they don't know and are just trying to take the story further forward than it is ready to go. No need for Villa fans to worry about this!

Daily Mail - Coleman for Coventry - The Mail had Chris Coleman under contract to write a weekly column while he was in Spain with San Sebastian. Now back home they are trailing behind everybody else on the story of his return to management at Coventry and can't even get quotes from Coleman himself

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Just give me time pleads Benitez - Gerrard demands match of our lives - Ian Wright column - Grant guns for final - Lyon Kings - FA Cup draw stories - McCombe's a hair raiser

Daily Express - Rafa's last stand - Kaiser warning overe 2018 - Barnsley boys feel at home - Mancini on a mission - Capello's Champions League verdicts - Essien expects as Blues eye fab four - Ton up Giggs feels Champion - Alan Curbishley column - Watch it Blues, we're after you

Daily Star - Rafa: I will survive - Blues showing snow fear - Tyke that Chelsea - I'm here for a long time yet says Benitez - Great sides Av to taste glory - Giggs is told Eur the tops - Coleman goes to Cov

Daily Mirror - Grant's gamble with Blues axe - Fabio's all Hart when it comes to keepers - Gerrard demands performance of Liverpool's lives - Capello backs United to win European Cup - We'll never be truly big club until we win ultimate prize says Avram Grant - Barnsley's Howard on how he'll dump Chelsea - Mac's whack for Warnock

Daily Mail - I will survive says Rafa - Gallas sidesteps ban over Nani kick - Rafa must heal the scars - We've got one eye on Moscow says Grant - Howard's mission - Coleman the chosen one for Coventry - McCombe to City's rescue

Tags: Football Betting, Liverpool, Next Managerial Change, Rafa Benitez, Today's Papers