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Sunderland boss Poyet slashed to leave his post

WEST BROM’S Alan Irvine remains 5-4 favourite to be the first Premier League manager to leave his job but Gus Poyet was a big mover in the market on Thursday.

The Sunderland boss was slashed from 33-1 to 10-1 by Paddy Power after an interview in which he appeared to criticise the club’s transfer policy.

Asked about his hopes for the January transfer window, Poyet said: “I want more quality. Do I think I’ll get it? I don’t know.”

Coral offer 14-1 that the Black Cats gaffer is the first top-flight manager to leave although Irvine – backed into favouritism earlier this week – Leicester’s Nigel Pearson and Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers are shorter than him in the betting.

Rodgers gained a much-needed victory in the Capital One Cup at Bournemouth on Wednesday and he is 11-2 in the sack race.

Raheem Sterling ended his goal drought with a brace at Dean Court and bet365 are betting on how many goals the England man scores in the Premier League this season.

Sterling, given a more central role in Liverpool’s last two games, is 5-6 to score ten or more league goals. His tally currently stands at three.

Sterling’s Reds team-mate Mario Balotelli was yesterday handed a one-match ban by the FA for a breach of social media rules and is scheduled to miss Sunday’s game against Arsenal.

Liverpool face Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup and the Blues are 110-1 with Ladbrokes to win four major trophies this season.

Jose Mourinho’s side, who are 10-11 with Power to win the League Cup, are three points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League and have been drawn against Paris St-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.

They are 11-2 favourites to win the FA Cup, in which they face Championship side Watford at home in the third round.

In Friday night’s Championship action Millwall are 6-5 to beat injury-hit Bolton. The Lions picked up a much-needed win at Brighton last week while Bolton are missing injured forwards Craig Davies and Joe Mason.

The Trotters have Eidur Gudjohnsen available and manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that former England striker Emile Heskey is training with the club in a bid to win a short-term contract.

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