Premier League - Bookies: Benitez to go by Sunday

Eurosport - Wed, 25 Feb 23:55:00 2009

Bookmakers have suspended betting on the next Premier League boss to leave his job after a huge amount of money was placed on Rafael Benitez to be the ninth manager to go this season.

FOOTBALL Liverpool Benitez - 0

On Tuesday night the Spaniard was a 20/1 outsider to be next out of his job, but an enormous flurry of betting activity saw the price cut to evens before the markets were suspended at 9.30 on Wednesday morning.

"We are slightly jumpy after being turned over by the recent 'Weymouth coup'," said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams. "But the level of interest on Rafa getting the sack is unprecedented.

"We would be very surprised if Rafa is still the Liverpool boss by midnight on Sunday."

But leading Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who is a personal friend of Benitez, moved quickly to dismiss claims the Liverpool boss is about to be axed.

On his website, Balague wrote: "There are reports that betting has been suspended on this particular market and the rumour that Benitez will be gone has spread like wildfire around the Liverpool supporters out here in Madrid and on the internet.

"If I am honest, I am not entirely comfortable indulging in these stories at the moment as there is so much misinformation being spread around that it is impossible to respond accurately to every single report or rumour.

"However, because of the number of people who are getting in touch with us, I feel I should respond.

"I can say with absolute certainty, categorically, that Rafa Benitez will not be sacked as manager of Liverpool this evening and that these rumours are not true.

"At the moment, the situation is delicate, and there have been developments with regard to the ongoing contractual negotiations at Anfield, and this is something that we will discuss later."

After setting the pace for several months earlier in the season, Liverpool now trail Manchester United by seven points in the league following a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City.

Since bringing in the new year at the top of the table, Benitez has since watched his side drop points against City, Stoke, Wigan and Everton, who also knocked them out of the FA Cup a few weeks ago.

Benitez's now-infamous outburst towards Sir Alex Ferguson just before the goalless draw at Stoke prompted many to question whether the Spanish manager could handle the pressure of a genuine title challenge.

Early betting markets on a potential successor quote Kenny Dalglish as 3/1 favourite to take over at Anfield, with Jose Mourinho at 10/1.

Toby Keel / Eurosport

Comment 327 - 346 of 346

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  1. HEY HEY HEY HEY.ROBBIE KEANE WAS REDCARDED BY HIS­ MANAGER Redknapp YESTERDAY AND ALL THROUGH I HAVE NOT­ HEARD ANY OF YOU GUYS COMPLAINING.IF ITS RAFA THE WHOLE­ WORLD WILL EXPLODE.CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY NOT IN­ REDKNAPP'S CASE?

    From Michael, on Fri 27 Feb 7:49AM

  2. littleman who thought they sack jose mourinho anyone­ can be replaced

    From mickyboy, on Thu 26 Feb 6:26PM

  3. Recently, I discovered a hot place
    -- Tallgather Co m­ -- where many sexy tall singles who like sports and­ chatting there. I'm an open minded girl from UK, I­ also like discuss sports and love with tall guys on it.

    From faburegas05, on Thu 26 Feb 3:19PM

  4. 348, Benitez's time is up you will walk alone for­ the rest of the season. you can
    get him a job to make­ pies at wimpy'ssssssssssssssssssssssssss

    BEL pa­ zed

    From Brian, on Thu 26 Feb 2:01PM

  5. 348, Benitez's time is up you will walk alone for­ the rest of the season. you can
    get him a job to make­ pies at wimpy'ssssssssssssssssssssssssss

    BEL pa­ zed

    From Brian, on Thu 26 Feb 12:42PM

  6. 348, Benitez's time is up you will walk alone for­ the rest of the season. you can
    get him a job to make­ pies at wimpy'ssssssssssssssssssssssssss

    BEL pa­ zed

    From Brian, on Thu 26 Feb 12:41PM

  7. BENITEZ WONT GO R U STUPID U IDIOTS? WHAT CLUB SACKS­ THEIR GAFFER AFTER HE WINS 1-0 AT THE BERNEBAU AND ALSO­ THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM SINCE ARSENAL IN SOMMAT LIKE 2K4­ 2 BEAT REAL MADRID. GET REAL U DREAMERS AND WAKE­ UP!!!!!!!111

    lIVERPOOL 4 LIFE

    From little man, on Thu 26 Feb 12:28PM

  8. to coment 328 show me any manager that can buy perfect­ player from begin till the end?but the difference thing­ between rafa n saf is....saf mistake but win lots of­ cup....n rafa mistake lose the cup......he seem only­ care about champ league....other cup he only good­ talking with bad result...

    From Monkey L, on Thu 26 Feb 11:51AM

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    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    ALL MATCHES ON­ INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP,­ CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP AND MUCH MORE

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    From , on Thu 26 Feb 11:25AM

  10. If any LFC fans truly think that Mourinho would be­ welcome at Anfield they are ignorant.

    I would boycott­ all games if Mourinho was in charge (and probably­ follow Rafa's success wherever he would go!)

    From shane, on Thu 26 Feb 10:50AM

  11. Lfc is a great team with a good coach,Benny is a­ nexperience coach and that has showed in europe all­ these while,so you guys should allow this guy to do­ what he knows to do best and lets all wait and see what­ willhappen in the champions league

    From oyedeji, on Thu 26 Feb 10:16AM

  12. Steven J comment earlier on shows him as a mug! how can­ you say benitez is the worst liverpool manager in­ history, this is the opinion of a part-time no­ knowledge liverpool 'fan'. As a life long­ liverpool fan i admit at times benitez infuriates me­ beyond belief, but you cant forget what he has achieved­ in his short time and the fact that we are closer to­ challenging for the title than we have ever been in the­ premiership years! if your looking for the worst­ liverpool manager ever i urge you to look at the one,­ the only Graeme Souness!

    From teenwolf86, on Thu 26 Feb 10:05AM

  13. rafa needs to be able to buy who he wants when he wants­ and get rid of the yanks and parry and bring king kenny­ back as director of football, and leave rafa to do the­ buiness on the pitch, end of confersation.long live­ lfc.

    From Michael, on Thu 26 Feb 10:03AM

  14. Sappercommando is an Man U fan wearing weird looking­ muppet stripes while telling @#$% !! Think he should­ go to bed cause it past his bedtime

    From hailey s, on Thu 26 Feb 10:01AM

  15. sappercommando25 you are not a Liverpool fan so stop­ causing confusion in our camp

    From Michael, on Thu 26 Feb 8:08AM

  16. Philkatepix, sounds like a fat moron who thinks other­ people are fat like him. Long live Rafa, top BOSS.

    From peter f, on Thu 26 Feb 8:01AM

  17. If anyone needs to go, its Parry. Please someone tell­ me what has he done and what is he doing?

    From Nick, on Thu 26 Feb 7:00AM

  18. Benitez need to go

    From stanley, on Thu 26 Feb 6:29AM

  19. Stupid sappercommando

    From Naren7, on Thu 26 Feb 5:27AM

  20. Knows Euro footy really well, master tactician (but­ have any of his teams met united en route ??). But EPL­ ? Hasn't sussed it, was lucky IMO earlier this­ season to grab the lead.

    From ispurs, on Thu 26 Feb 3:37AM
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