Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is the favourite in Sky Bet's next Liverpool manager betting market after Kenny Dalglish was sacked on Wednesday.
Martinez has attracted the majority of support from punters and consequently been cut from 25/1 to replace Dalglish after successfully masterminding the Latics' Premier League survival.
Rafael Benitez is the second favourite having led the Reds to Champions League glory in 2005, before adding the FA Cup in 2006 and secured a second-place finish in the Premier League in 2008/09. The former Valencia coach has been out of work since an ill-fated spell at Inter Milan in 2010/11 and has been linked to a number of Premier League jobs in recent weeks.
The online betting company has Frank Rijkaard as a chance to take over at Anfield, with Norwich manager Paul Lambert available at and assistant manager Steve Clarke the same price to take the reins at Anfield.
Sky Bet Football Trader Chris Spicer said: "We've been mainly been seeing money for Martinez with punters clearly holding a high opinion for him following his fine work at Wigan, while Benitez's links with the club and availability make him an obvious option."
Update:
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what do you think?
Ricky Wright
Fine work at Wigan? Masterminding the Latics Premier League survival? If he's that great why was relegation ever a consideration? Benitez caused a lot of friction within the team (trying to sell Alonso for example. And to get Gareth Barry of all players). Rijkard would be good but doubtful and Mourihno could be good too but too controversial
jamie edwards
Liverpool arent the same team they were 20 odd years ago they not in the champions league not competing for the league so why would an accomplished manager want to go there martinez would be good
shirley sutton
They're Going backwards - Wigan manager. Wigan only just managed to stay in premier league why he any better than Lenny at least Liverpool won silver and got to final of fa cup should have kept him on for another season as yanks know nothing about football
David Barber
No one thought about Ranieri? Guardiola? McClaren? What about former Liverpool players like Ince, Clough or Hamann?
Mark Byatt
Saw Alex Ferguson yesterday coming out of Ikea with a trolley load of mugs.I said Alex what do you need all those mugs for he turned and said well these will be the only cups my boys will be holding this season.
mrgoster
A couple of comments here are strange to say the least. Martinez keeping Wigan in the league this year was great, especially with the style they play. He's got a group of okay footballers playing how Football should be played. Imagine what he could do with Liverpool without the threat of relegation, liverpool aren't far away believe me, it just needs the extra little spark. He could be the answer. Similarly Paul Lambert. To take Norwich where he has and keep them comfortably in the Prem is little short of ASTONISHING. These 2 lads are extremely talented and driven managers, and I for one would have either.
Bernard Petrie
Its silly really, seems to me they do not want managers they want success at any price. Kenny was good for Liverpool and given more time I think he would have produced a fantastic side. And he did win trophies and kept us in the Premier, where as perhaps 18 months before we looked to be going down for sure. I just hope they keep him on in some capacity we need him. But then its business that rules not football. However I think the players should share a bit of blame, it did not seem to be a case of a managers lack of ability, just guys who were having trouble knowing how to put a ball in a goal. Its a shame it is always the manager gets the blame. The money footballers get paid they should be able to score goals from the bench not let managers take the rap for their inability to do so.
Dorrien Phillips
4:53pm on 16/5/2012
Fine work at Wigan, they sacked Dalglish for winning a trophy, coming second in the FA Cup, finishing 8th in the league, and they want to employ someone who took Wigan to 15th? where is the sense in all of this?
Grant McNamara
5:32pm on 16/5/2012
Maybe something to do with the fact wigan are one of the smallest clubs in the division and he hasnt spent over 70 mil in under 2 years?
jamie edwards
8:14pm on 16/5/2012
Some people havent got a clue martinez is a quality manager there is only so far you can take a team and hes done well.
Dorrien Phillips
9:14pm on 16/5/2012
Yes but what makes people think he can now go to a club with Liverpool's expectations and do any better than Dalglish, Yes Martinez is an excellent manager, but if Liverpool want to return to the top, they need to find continuity and a top top manager.