Martinez and Benitez favourites for Liverpool

May 16, 2012
By: Deke Hardman

Following the announcement of the sacking of Kenny Dalglish from Liverpool, there are two clear front runners for the position.

The Liverpool icon was relieved of his position following a disappointing league campaign, which saw the Merseyside club finish with their lowest points total in over thirty years.

The Scotsman did take the club to two cup finals, winning the League Cup on penalties before losing the FA Cup to Chelsea earlier this month.

The current favourite to replace Dalglish is Wigan’s Roberto Martinez, a man who has been praised for his style of football firstly at Swansea, and now Wigan where he has remarkably kept them in the division three years in a row against all odds.

The Spaniard has also been linked with the vacant posts at Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion; however the lure of a club the size of Liverpool would surely be more tempting.

Martinez is 3.0 (2/1) with Bet 365 to become the five times European Champions fourth manager in three years.

The first of those four was Rafael Benitez, who left the club in June 2010. During his six year spell, the former Valencia manager famously won the Champions League in his first season, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and the FA Cup the following year.

The 52 year old, who is still highly regarded by a large number of Reds fans, has been out of work since his short spell as Inter Milan manager ended in December 2010. He has also been linked with other positions, but having left Liverpool by mutual consent he may be open to a return.

Benitez is best priced 5.5 (9/2) with Bet 365 to once again take control of Liverpool. However, following Dalglish’s second spell, would he risk tarnishing his own legacy?

Other names in the frame are former Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, now in charge of the Saudi Arabia national side, who is a 13.0 (12/1) chance with Bodog, whilst Andre Villas Boas is next in line at 15.0 (14/1) with 888Sport.

Former England manager Fabio Capello is also an outside bet, along with Brendan Rogers and Paul Lambert, who have had impressive debut seasons in the Premier League with Swansea City and Norwich City respectively.

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