The online betting sites have gone wild with traffic thanks to the conjecture over who will take over at Liverpool Football Club after Rafa Benitez stood down as manager. We thought we'd take a look at the candidates and discuss where the smart places are to put your money.
Online casino William Hill has Fulham's Roy Hodgson as favourite to take over at 13/8. This might not be a bad shout, as the man is definitely the press' golden boy and would feel he has the advantage in taking on the challenge. Martin O'Neill, currently of Aston Villa, comes in second at 7/4, something which has clearly come about thanks to rampant media speculation. This is a bet worth avoiding, however, as Villa know how to protect their prized assets. Kenny Dalglish should be ignored at 11/4, as it is unclear whether his coming on as "caretaker" would be enough to win the bet.
Some of the interesting longer odds include Guus Hiddink at 8/1, Mark Hughes at 10/1 and Frank Rijkaard at 16/1. Any one of these three would be a fair shout to take over for different reasons. Hiddink has proved himself worthy in the Premier League and the only tactical mind equal to that of Rafa Benitez, while Mark Hughes is currently without a club and is seeking a return to England. Rijkaard would bring with him useful European contacts and even holds the keys to certain potential signings. For a club working on a budget, such discount purchasing might be too much to pass up.
Let us know where the money's going! Who are you betting on?…