Martinez and Benitez favourites for Liverpool job after Dalglish exit
Published:Kenny Dalglish has been sacked as Liverpool boss after just 16 months in charge of the Reds.
It follows a disappointing domestic season where the five-time European champions finished eighth in the Premier League and a massive 37 points behind winners Manchester City.
The Anfield legend did guide them to a Carling Cup triumph and an FA Cup final, but that wasn’t deemed a good enough return on the huge investment Fenway made on players such as Andy Carroll (£35million) and Stewart Downing (£16million).
The Scot’s cause also won’t have been helped by his prickly demeanour with the media and the way in which he handled the Luis Suarez racism row.
The early favourite to take over from Dalglish is Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez (6/5) who saw his stock rise thanks to a brilliant end to the season that saw the Latics win seven of their last nine Premier League games.
However, Martinez isn’t the biggest name in the football and another former Reds manager – Rafa Benitez – is just behind his compatriot at 3/1.
Benitez guided Liverpool to a 2005 Champions League title and has retained close links with Merseyside since his departure in the summer of 2010.
There weren’t too many tears shed when he left though and it would be a bold move for the Fenway Group to reappoint a manager who left just months before they took over the Anfield side.
Elsewhere, ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is out at 14/1 while Jose Mourinho – who has had some serious tussles with the Reds in his career – is 8/1 to take charge.
Ladbrokes latest betting
Next manager of Liverpool FC
7/4 R. Martinez
8/1 F. Capello
8/1 J. Mourinho
8/1 R. Benitez
8/1 A. Villas-Boas
10/1 C. Ancelotti
10/1 B. Rodgers
14/1 J. Guardiola
14/1 P. Lambert
16/1 M. O’Neill
16/1 L. Van Gaal
16/1 C. Ranieri
16/1 H. Redknapp
20/1 G Hiddink
20/1 L. Blanc
20/1 S. Hyppia
20/1 F. Rijkaard
28/1 G. Poyet
33/1 S. Clarke
33/1 D. Moyes
33/1 S. Eriksson
33/1 G. Souness
33/1 K. Keegan
33/1 D. Deschamps
