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 268 - 287 of 347

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. he stayed too much.............already

    From Christos, on Wed 25 Feb 7:10PM

  2. For Benitez leaving Anfield is a problem to the club.I­ think he should remain and LIVERPOOL will never walk­ alone....UP LIVERPOOL;;;;;;;;;

    From sani danladi, on Wed 25 Feb 7:06PM

  3. Manchester u are cheating filth,they dont deserve­ anything,
    if they didnt have the little god,pink­ knickered Ronaldo,theyd be 10 points behind the­ Liverpukers,

    From , on Wed 25 Feb 7:05PM

  4. dont go

    From sexy_sarah_bird, on Wed 25 Feb 7:04PM

  5. why should i comment on the demise of liverpool what­ about our 39 juventus boys you never mention or­ acknowledge

    From daddy, on Wed 25 Feb 7:04PM

  6. To GKISKING, how the **** have we not progressed one­ bit with Raffa he won us the champions league oh im­ sorry what more do you want blood

    From matcardinal, on Wed 25 Feb 7:03PM

  7. What is the only ship that can't dock at­ Liverpool?

    The premier-ship!

    What really makes me­ laugh though, more than this classic joke that's­ been doing the rounds since the premierships inception,­ is that many fans seem to genuinely think Rafa is the­ best manager for them. I mean, they genuinely seem to­ believe it.

    I find it hilarious - I honestly think­ only Tony Adams has done a worse job in recent­ years.

    I am astonished when I hear his managerial­ ability being discussed favourably. Absolutely­ astonished.

    From gkisking, on Wed 25 Feb 7:03PM

  8. COMMENT 275.

    WELL SAID MY SON,

    ME MYSELF I SUPPORT­ CARDIFF CITY AND GOT A BIG GAME ON TONIGHT, REGARDLESS­ THE SCORE I KNOW THAT ALL THE TEAM AND MANAGER REALISE­ WHAT IS AT STAKE (NO NEED TO ADD EXTRA PRESSURE ON­ THEM, LIKE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO RAFA)

    ONLY IF ALL­ SUPPORTERS HAD THE SAME ATTITUDE.

    From seasons12379, on Wed 25 Feb 7:02PM

  9. TO FIGHTER ....OBVIOUSLY YOU DONT KNOW FOOTBALL , AS A­ PLAYER I KNOW THAT YOU NEED A STRONG MANAGER SOME ONE­ TO GET THE BEST OUGHT OF YOU AND PUT AN ARM ROUND YOUR­ SHOULDER WHEN NEEDED AND FERGIE,S THE BEST FOR THAT ,­ THATS Y LIVERPOOL ( TRUE FANS )DONT LIKE RAFA

    From Nigel, on Wed 25 Feb 7:02PM

  10. Don't eat this guys. It's another blow by­­ reporters to make news inspired feom the weymouth­­ story. reporters has has always been after robbie­ keane­ has scored few goals. how much more has­ berbatov­ scored? These reporters have been putting­ pressure on­ lfc since they top the league back in­ december.

    From , on Wed 25 Feb 7:02PM

  11. To Peter McDonnell :- Where have the investigation­ details gone that revealed Colleen Rooney's­ brother was in the same bar as Gerrard when the trouble­ started - I have heard one or two disturbing facts from­ Southport and it makes me think you are bang on the­ nail. An old friend on the force has given me his­ opinion - I can't tell his name for obvious reasons­ - but I wouldn't put it past the dirty tricks­ brigade at the Eastern End of the A580 !

    From Madrileno, on Wed 25 Feb 6:59PM

  12. To Peter McDonnell :- Where have the investigation­ details gone that revealed Colleen Rooney's­ brother was in the same bar as Gerrard when the trouble­ started - I have heard one or two disturbing facts from­ Southport and it makes me think you are bang on the­ nail. An old friend on the force has given me his­ opinion - I can't tell his name for obvious reasons­ - but I wouldn't put it past the dirty tricks­ brigade at the Eastern End of the A580 !

    From Madrileno, on Wed 25 Feb 6:59PM

  13. anthony h It amazes me how your country leads the world­ in the english language, when people like you write the­ way you do-repeat your comment in english please!

    From LFCool!, on Wed 25 Feb 6:59PM

  14. For all you upset Liverpool supporters, why did you­­ decide to glory hunt and support Liverpool when you­­ ought to have supported the mighty Man Utd from the­­ beginning?

    Or

    Why don't you stop acting like­­ se87ally deprived housewives and support your club,­­ yup, that means team, manager, owners, cleaners, pitch­­ man, the whole package. You have no idea what you have­­ in Liverpool. If you stopped speaking out everytime­­ your D*ck hit you in the head as you shake it­ objecting­ to everything, then you would actually begin­ to make­ sense.

    Regrads
    A true supporter through thick­ and­ thin, Celticccccccccccccc.

    From Jake, on Wed 25 Feb 6:59PM

  15. rafa must go if he love the club.rafa is not for­ liverpool right now.please go.please.

    From sathian t, on Wed 25 Feb 6:58PM

  16. Its funny how ever Liverpool fan wants to win the­ Premiership, yet they don't mind their negatively­ minded manager caring only about the Champions League.­ Liverpool do well inspite of benitez, not because of­ him!

    Seeing him fall apart at the first sign of­ pressure from Fergie this year was priceless!

    From matbloor, on Wed 25 Feb 6:58PM

  17. In 1995 Blackburn Rovers purchased the Premier league­ title on the strength of Jack Walkers millions. Soon­ after Kenny left them and has done nothing since just­ ask any Newcastle fan. Yes I am United fan have been­ since I was four years old, forty four years later I­ still support the Devils but more importantly I am a­ football supporter who cares what happens to the sport.­ Do you 272?

    From suelowe_moscow, on Wed 25 Feb 6:58PM

  18. i dont really care i support celtic

    From carzo45, on Wed 25 Feb 6:58PM

  19. jakefr76 surely u live a boring life-supporting 1 of a­ 2 team league. Celtic this, Rangers that. No wonder­ you're @#$% in europe-you never had challenges­ prior to getting to Europe. How can you support a club­ who get there titles handed to them, then hand to­ Rangers, who in turn, give it back, and...are you­ getting this Mary. Oh and Carol, pleeehheeeeese make me­ my tea!

    From LFCool!, on Wed 25 Feb 6:57PM

  20. Totally agree with khb15344
    Dalglish left us with a­ @#$% squad lets not 4get one of his last signings david­ speedie !! As 4 rafa cant name that many better­ players in the currect squad better than the champions­ league squad!! lets be honest it will be a long time b4­ chelsea or UTD have such a bad season, so if he cant do­ it this yr he never will !!

    From welsh1972maverick, on Wed 25 Feb 6:56PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account