Benitez Shortens To Guide Everton To Champions League

Rafa Benitez was already being backed to guide Everton into the Champions League within hours of being confirmed as their new manager.

The former Liverpool boss was rubber-stamped as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor on Wednesday as he signed a three-year deal at the arch-rivals of the side he led to Champions League glory in 2005.

Now Everton are being backed to finish inside the Premier League’s top four next season as we clipped them into 10/1 from 12/1 for automatic Champions League qualification in their first season under the Spaniard.

A top half finish was already odds-on at 4/6 but has also shortened slightly into 8/13.

The blue half of Merseyside haven’t celebrated a major trophy win since the 1995 FA Cup Final and they are now rated 12/1 shots from 16/1 to end their barren run under Benitez next season, although a first top-flight title since the 1986/87 season remains a long shot at 100/1.

*Prices correct at time of publication

Bet here.