Liverpool Takeover - Football (Soccer) News And Picks

Liverpool Takeover
By Tim Robertson
Posted:11:00 am PDT 2007-02-09

Liverpool fans are American-dreaming of Premiership titles after US businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks completed a multi-million pound takeover of the Anfield club this week.

The pair have been making all the right noises this week, promising to challenge the apparent iron grip on the title race enjoyed by leading duo Manchester United and Chelsea.

There have been lots of references to the history and tradition of Liverpool, and Gillett's quoting of Anfield legend Bill Shankly in his introductory press conference sounded like manna from heaven for Reds fans.

"If you put down the objectives, money would be no way near the top of the list, it would have winning, passion, heritage and legacy above that," he said of his intentions for the club.

"(Chief executive) Rick (Parry) has told me of a Bill Shankly saying that 'First is first and second is nowhere,' and that sounds good to us."

"This is truly the largest sport in the world, the most important sport in the world, and this is the most important club in the most important sport in the world and what a privilege we have to be associated with it."

The deal has drawn comparisons with Malcolm Glazer's acquisition of United, but Gillett offered a dig at his new rival by pointing out there was no debt in the Liverpool deal, while Glazer plunged United deep into the red to fund his takeover.

"We have purchased the club with no debt on the club so, in that regard, it is different [to the Glazers]," Gillett said. "We believe in the future of the club, the future of the league, the new TV contracts are outstanding and we are proud to be a part of it.

"If you look at the Premier League today, it is a strong revenue-generating body for the leading teams. I believe it has the chance to be a growing industry over time and we need all the revenues we can possibly find to compete with Manchester and Chelsea."

Gillett owns the Montreal Canadiens, while Tom Hicks also has an NHL franchise, the Dallas Stars, as well as the Texas Rangers baseball team. That gives them a strong background in sports, although there are a few blotches on Hicks' CV in particular - most notably the massive $252 million contract he handed to shortstop Alex Rodriguez. Hicks blew so much of his budget on one player that the team actually got worse until A-Rod was shipped to New York three years into the 10-year deal. The Rangers still pay around a third of his salary, and Hicks earned the nickname "Tom Dumb" in one newspaper.

Liverpool fans had better hope he has learned the lessons from that as he prepares to embark on another shopping spree with his new team.

"We are not going to put a budget on squad development, we are going to wait for Rick and (manager) Rafa (Benitez) to bring us those plans and requests and we are going to support them," Hicks said.

"Rafa's strategies and philosophies are very similar to our own, with a strong core of veterans with highly-talented young athletes.

"You need to keep your star players but also develop your young players. Young players are the lifeblood of your team, so we talked about how we can improve that side of the team."

However, the main job for Gillett and Hicks is to get Liverpool a new stadium. For all its history and tradition, Anfield is no longer up to their needs. Its 45,000 capacity lags behind Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium, and swift progress must be made on plans for a new 60,000-seat venue in Stanley Park if the Reds are to get back on level terms with the top clubs.

"We are going to build the finest team for the finest stadium in the Premier League and that is Liverpool," Hicks said.

The pair have promised to begin work on the project within the next 60 days, but how long delivering a title takes is a much bigger question.

When this season began, many expected Liverpool to be capable of challenging United and Chelsea, but a poor start quickly exposed their weaknesses, and - given the progress made particularly by United this season - it is difficult to see Liverpool making the necessary leap next year either.

There are too many areas of the team that are not strong enough for them to be able to win with the sort of regularity which is now needed in the Premiership. Jamie Carragher lacks a convincing partner in defence as Sami Hyppia nears the end of his career, while a clinical finisher is needed up front. While Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso provide redoubtable quality in the centre of the park, the wings remain a problem with Jermaine Pennant unconvincing on the right and injuries striking down seemingly anyone who attempts to fill the void on the left.

Last week's frustrating 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby saw Liverpool lose ground on Chelsea, and the more immediate threat would now seem to come from a revitalised Arsenal in fourth.

With the pressure on, it will be interesting to see whether the feel-good factor from the takeover extends into Saturday's trip to Newcastle, where WagerWeb.com has Liverpool at -110 to take all three points.

Given Liverpool's relatively poor away record - it is this that has kept them out of the title race - and Newcastle's strong record at St James' Park, it is perhaps more tempting to look at the +250 price on the Magpies or the +225 being offered on a draw.

These are the sort of games that title challengers are expected to win, but Liverpool are not there yet.

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