Rafa’s gone!
It’s about time too! Liverpool have terminated their contract with Rafa Benitez by “mutual consent”. Does this mean he was sacked? Probably. Would they have had to have paid him off in order to get rid? Definitely. Of course whenever there is a high profile managerial casualty, there is talk of who is going to replace them before the dust has even settled (I’m also guilty of this!). I’ve had a scan about using Oddschecker and have found some interesting prices below:
Martin O’Neil – 11/4 @ skybet.
Roy Hodgson – 5/1 @ BlueSQ.
Kenny Dalglish – 7/2 @ bet365.
Guus Hiddink – 7/2 @ bet365.
Louis Van Haal – 25/1 @ PaddyPower.
Mark Hughes – 22/1 @ PaddyPower.
Frank Rijkaard – 28/1 @ PaddyPower.
The favourite appears to be Martin O’Neill. However in my opinion O’Neill has no reason to move on to Liverpool. He narrowly missed out on the league cup to Manchester United last term and has assembled a team that is capable of beating anyone on the day. I think he has a very good squad at Villa that he has built up himself, would he be willing to let that go? I think he’d be keen to have another go at the top 4 with Villa this coming season.
Dalglish seems to be a bit of a non starter to me. He’s currently coaching at the youth academy but it has been 10 years since he was last in charge of a 1st team. Is that a little too long out of the game?
Of these lot I’d say Hodgson would be favourite and 5/1 looks a steal! Linked with the job just weeks ago, and I think he’d jump at the chance of another season of European football. He’s a very experienced manager on the continent, and would be ideal for coaching in the Europa League again. I wouldn’t expect that much compo money would have to be forked out either.
I think I might have myself a flutter – Roy Hodgson to be the next Liverpool manager @ 5/1 
Thanks for reading,
Adam
