Andre Villas-Boas Now Favourite To Be Next Liverpool Manager

Former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has become the bookies' favourite for the Liverpool job after a flurry of bets overnight. The Portugese manager was ranked fourth favourite for the vacancy hours after confirmation came through yesterday afternoon that Kenny Dalglish had been sacked, but he is now installed at 6-4, ahead of former favourites; Wigan boss Roberto Martinez (around 4-1), former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez (7-1) and Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers (7-1). BBC reports that "intermediaries acting for the club have spoken with Andre Villas-Boas" about the vacancy, though they are less certain he will get the job. Villas-Boas was himself sacked by Chelsea two months ago after a disappointing league campaign. At the time the Blues were fifth place in the league and struggling to finish in the Champions League places, something that caretaker boss Roberto di Matteo also failed to achieve, though he did guide the club to Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich where a victory would see them qualify for another season. Another factor that didn't help Villas-Boas was that his long term plan to farm out the senior players (such as Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard) didn't get off to a good start and a player's revolt saw him outed. The US Liverpool owners John Henry and Tom Werner have spoken in the past 24 hours about a four or five year plan for the club, which would signal to the appointment of a young manager who this time will get the full backing for a long-term project. Outside bets for the Liverpool vacancy also include former England boss Fabio Capello (10-1) and Pep Guardiola (20-1) who resigned as Barcelona manager this month, but did so to take a break from football.