Today's Papers / Top Dog / 12 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 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:

Humble pie in Top Dog's bowl today. Laying Liverpool to qualify wasn't such a clever idea after all! All the papers quite rightly pour praise on Fernando Torres who with 25 goals in 35 games - and five in the last week - has suddenly become exempt from Rafa's rotation policy! Reds remain [7.8] outsiders of the four English clubs before the quarter-final draw, and it's [1.49] for an English club to win the trophy. Barcelona at [4.8] look the only danger.

Cruft's:

Daily Mirror - Grant's a turn-off - Remember how the Mirror signalled the end of Jose Mourinho's time at Stamford Bridge with a back page picture of acres of empty seats for a European tie? Now John Cross reports that the fans are voting with their wallets on Avram Grant as Chelsea won't sell out tonight's Premier League game with rock bottom Derby who are an incredible [36] to win. Grant's a [14.5] shot in the managerial change market at the moment - but what if Paul Jewell was to pull off the shock of the season

Daily Mirror - Benfica target Queiroz - A significant threat to Manchester United's chase for the title and the Champions League as Portuguese giants Benfica target Carlos Queiroz as their next manager following the sacking of Jose Antonio Camacho. John Cross in London and David McDonnell in Manchester have both worked on the story and it's backed up by quotes from a senior Benfica source. United remain [1.72] favourites to retain their Premier League title

The Sun - I know Thierry's unhappy here - Thierry Henry's former Arsenal team mate Robert Pires reveals that Thierry Henry isn't happy at Barcelona and that news will put all the big clubs in Europe on alert. Pires was due to catch up with his mate after Sunday's game between Barca and his club Villarreal, but found Henry had gone home in a strop at being substituted. 'I know him and I know he is not happy' says Pires. Barca are [5.6] to win the Primera Division with Real Madrid runaway [1.23] favourites.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Express - Travel to broaden appeal for O'Neill - Cup shocks for Chelsea and Manchester United had a big impact on Aston Villa. It's now only the top five places to guarantee European football, and Martin O'Neill is making his players aware of the pressure before tonight's home game with Middlesbrough. Villa are [1.67] to respond with a home win.

The Sun - Two Jags - Phil Jagielka on how moving to Everton has transformed his career. The former SHeffiled United player is now one of the rocks of David Moyes' defence, although it is goals they will need to turn round a 2-0 deficit against Fiorentina tonight. Toffees are [1.93] to win on the night, but [5] to qualify - which with Yakubu in form might just be a good bet to claw back the money Top Dog lost by laying Liverpool yesterday!

The Sun - Zok it to 'em - The Sun has bags of space today to give the UEFA ties proper attention and Pat Sheehan in Eindhoven hears Didier Zokora spell out why their tie with PSV isn't a lost cause - the goal power of Berbatov, Keane and Bent. Spurs are [2.84] to win on the night, [3.2] to qualify.

The Sun - Defoe ho-ho - Those ten pages of football give room for a Janine Self interview with Jermain Defoe who is cup-tied from Pompey's semi-final but glad to be playing and happy again. He's [2.52] to score against Birmingham tonight

Daily Mail - Thaksin taking a Thai 'time-out' to tackle City - Two wins in 12 games hasn't been all that clever for Sven Goran Eriksson and Peter Ferguson reports that owner Thaksin Shinawatra has arranged a four-week adjournment to his trial in Thailand to fly home and sort things out. 'I have to go home and tighten the bolt' he says. He'll have a £50m transfer fund available in the summer but here's the first sign that Sven might not be the man who works with it. City are [2.76] to make the owner happier with a home win over Spurs on Sunday

Dog' s dinner:

The Sun - Lamps out, Diego in - Shaun Custis doesn't normally do speculation but this one is the exception. He reckons Chelsea are plotting to let Frank Lampard go for nothing and will spend £25million to replace him with Werder Bremen's 23-year-old Brazilian Diego. And the last paragraph says Peter Kenyon is committed to reducing the club's transfer outlay!

Daily Express - Clubs back Express Tevez campaign - Well actually it's one club, Wigan, who are supporting Harry Harris in his efforts to dig up the third party ownership row again. The rest of us remain bored to tears.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Fournando - In the great - I Av what it takes to be a winner - Basso helps Robins stay top - Barnsley boost survival bid - League One reports

Daily Express - Torres is the San Siro hero - Red bulls in charge - Harry's game upsets his rivals - Henderson's spot of bother - Howard leads from the front - Ramos to show off his weapons - Jagielka has grown into job

Daily Star - Kop aces Torr-ific - Super Nando strikes gold - Benitez counter punch is KO blow - St John's a saviour - Grant begs for more time - O'Neill's Euro push - Show you're worth a Wembley place says Harry - Shut it warns Jag - Juan plan of action

Daily Mirror - Ole - Rafa red raw but Kop stars in a league of their own - abi to miss Milan clash after baby row - Dream draw for Steele - Southgate on his FA Cup heartbreak - Ramos shows Dutch courage - Adriana gets Robins out of tight spot - Hissing Sid Pots glory for Stoke

Daily Mail - Fab Four - Torres show of power - Burnley Wade into Charlton slump - Basso the saviour - Grant 'proud' of his work - Gibson snubs Boro flops - Spurs look for early returns

Tags: football betting, football odds, Liverpool, Thierry Henry, Top Dog