Reds to look for a wise head in times of turmoil

From the very second that Sky Sports News broke the news earlier this week that Rafa Benitez would be leaving Liverpool with a reported 6 million compensation package, all attention has been turned to who would be replacing him in the hot seat. With The Special One taking up the Real Madrid hot seat, and Fabio Capello signing a new contract, the options are slightly narrower than they would have been if making the decision a few weeks earlier. Heading the market currently are Martin O Neill, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish however I am certainly of the belief that the market is more open than the current prices suggest. With two of the three main candidates currently managing Premiership teams, and the other only a temporary appointment at best, there are certainly grounds to oppose all three at present. O Neill could prove a strong candidate, and is rumoured to be highly frustrated by the Villa hierarchy, but the question needs to be asked whether he would find himself in similar position at Anfield, with the club currently in huge debt any transfer funding would surely be limited. Hodgson has come off the back of a fantastic season with Fulham, but surely may have one eye on the takeover and wouldn't want to go to a club in turmoil despite it being such a big club. Dalglish doesn't look like he is hungry for a return to front line management, and having not managed in the top flight for well over a decade, would be a bizarre appointment from a club that would be thinking with its heart rather than its head. As such I think its worth a small punt on Sven Goran Eriksson who has not only the experience of top jobs both in the UK and overseas, but has recently expressed his love for the Anfield club, and with his availability post world cup with Ivory Coast a possibility, may at the very least have discussions with the US owners. At a bigger price, Frank Rijkaard is a man no stranger to high pressure jobs having managed the mighty Barcelona with some degree of success. His tactical knowledge should not be underestimated, and has the charisma to attract players to a club that finds itself without the golden ticket of Champions League football. Of course a market like this is completely open, but at the prices both these potential gaffers could be worthy of support

1 pt Sven Goran Eriksson 16/1 Paddy Power

1 pt Frank Rijkaard 40/1 Betfair