WEDNESDAY 6
	Premier League chairmen give warm welcome to prospective new Liverpool owners A host of Premier League chairmen have insisted Liverpool's prospective new owners should be welcomed with open arms. New England Sports Ventures, owners of the Boston Red Sox, have had a £300million offer accepted by the Liverpool board - though against the wishes of current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett who have launched legal action to try to stop it. There have been some reservations expressed by Liverpool fans about replacing one set of American owners with another, but Buck said NESV should be given a chance to prove themselves. Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said: ''It depends on what the objective of a foreign owner is - if they are in a position to recognise the history and traditions of what they are buying then I'd say let's welcome them with open arms.'' (Telegraph.co.uk)   Liverpool owner's legal challenge 'likely to fail' Tom Hicks and George Gillett's legal bid to thwart the takeover of Liverpool is likely to end in failure according to an insolvency expert. Hicks and Gillett argue Liverpool's directors have dramatically undervalued the club by agreeing a £300m sale to New England Sports Ventures. But Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton says that he has the final say when it comes to the sale of the club. "The directors have the momentum," Guy Thomas of SA Law told BBC Sport. (BBC Sport Online)     'Unprecedented' Football takeover talk is common place in the modern game and since the inception and incredible growth of the Premier League, it's become synonymous with the do or die quest for footballing glory. But what is happening at Liverpool today is something totally out of the ordinary and in fact unprecedented in English football. By agreeing in principle to the sale of Liverpool Football Club to the owners of the Boston Red Sox, the majority of the board of directors at Anfield are totally at odds with the two American owners of the club. (Mike Hughes - BBC Radio Merseyside Sport Reporter)  Gillett and Hicks stand to lose £144m from Liverpool sale The Liverpool co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, stand to lose their £144m loans in Liverpool if the proposed sale of the club to John W Henry's New England Sports Ventures group goes through next week. The deal with Henry is valued at £300m which incorporates £200m to repay debt owed to the Royal Bank of Scotland, £40m to cover non-banking liabilities and £60m in debts relating to the planned development of the proposed new Anfield stadium in Stanley Park. (guardian.co.uk) Carra reacts to sale news Jamie Carragher believes a takeover by New England Sports Ventures would be great news for Liverpool fans. The club's Board have agreed the sale of the club subject to Premier League approval, resolution of a dispute concerning Board membership and other matters. And Carragher told Liverpoolfc.tv: "Everyone knows it'll be a good thing for the club. "Hopefully it will be sorted sooner rather than later and we can start looking forward on the pitch and start improving results, which is what we need to do." (LFC Official Website) Thommo welcomes LFC sale with caution Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson has spoken of his delight that the club is on the verge of sale, but issues caution with the new owners. Thompson sounded very upbeat in an interview with Sky Sports News saying the sale, and exit of Tom Hicks and George Gillett from the club, will give Anfield it’s “feelgood factor” back. He said, “The new owners have to be given a chance, yes they are purchasing the club for a lot less than other owners and yes there’s a lot of work to do, but let’s hope there’s some good news in the next two weeks." (This is Anfield) LFC takeover latest – Broughton reveals sale details Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton says he is hopeful the deal to sell the club to New England Sports Ventures will go through in the next week. Broughton faces a legal challenge from current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett who are looking to block the sale in hope they can hold out for more money with nine days left to pay the £285million owed to the Royal Bank of Scotland. It also emerged this lunchtime that a rival bid from an Asian-based consortium was turned down in favour of the bid from the American firm, who own the Boston Red Sox. (This is Anfield) How Anfield board meeting sparked LFC civil war The cicil war engulfing Liverpool FC’s board looks set to rumble on as the future of the club is decided by lawyers. The first shot was fired yesterday by Tom Hicks and George Gillett as they sensationally tried to sack managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre from the board. Broughton intervened and convened a board meeting in which Hicks declined to take part – but at which Gillett had a lawyer present The ECHO understands meetings continued through the night culminating with today’s statement that the sale of the club to NESV had been agreed. (Liverpool Echo) Liverpool hoping for an American dream Liverpool fans will be praying that prospective new owner John W Henry can replicate the impact he had at Boston Red Sox - by quickly winning the Premier League title to end a drought which seems certain to stretch up to at least 22 years. While Liverpool fans could be forgiven for being apprehensive at being bought out by another American after such a disastrous three years, the initial signs are positive. Any deal which removes the albatross of leveraged debt is a good start. (ESPN Soccernet)  Controversial tycoons' turbulent Kop years With their ill-fated tenure at Anfield set to end - and not without a fight - Goal.com UK charts the disastrous reign of 'Uncle George and Tom'... (Goal.com) No points penalty possible for Reds, say Premier League The Premier League will not dock points from Liverpool if the club’s American owners’ company Kop Holdings goes into administration next week, it can be revealed. A Premier League source said: “The aim of the regulations is primarily to capture clubs who have gone into insolvency. This is manifestly not the case with Liverpool Football Club.” (Evening Echo)  John W Henry: A profile of Liverpool's prospective new owner Supporters of Liverpool may be wary of another American owner, but in John W Henry they have a very different breed to Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The quiet, reserved 61-year-old made his fortune in hedge funds, but has used it to indulge his sporting interests, most famously with the Boston Red Sox baseball team, but also in the NASCAR motorsport series. The self-made multi-millionaire does not have the serious money of the Premier League's wealthiest owners, with his fortune rated at $860m (£540m) before dipping in the credit crunch, but he does have an excellent track record of success with his teams. (Press Association - guardian.co.uk) Tom Hicks and George Gillett statement on Liverpool FC sale bids Tom Hicks and George Gillett issued a statement in response to any sale late last night, outlining their opposition to the bids received so far. It added the bids received dramatically undervalue the club, in their opinion. (Liverpool Echo) Red Sox deal for Reds Liverpool have confirmed that a takeover deal has been agreed with the owners of the Boston Red Sox baseball team. New England Sports Ventures (NESV), the parent company of the Red Sox, have seen a bid accepted by the Anfield board. Current Liverpool owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks had vowed to 'resist any attempt to sell the club without due process or agreement', and have not given their consent for a deal to be pushed through. However, the Reds have been able to put an agreement in place - although the sale is still conditional on Premier League approval, resolution of the dispute concerning board membership and other matters. (Sky Sports) Board agree proposed sale Liverpool Football Club today announces that the Board has agreed the sale of the Club to New England Sports Ventures (NESV). New England Sports Ventures currently owns a portfolio of companies including the Boston Red Sox, New England Sports Network, Fenway Sports Group and Roush Fenway Racing. (Liverpool Football Club) Reds games changed for TV The following Liverpool fixtures have been moved after being selected for television. LIVERPOOL v ASTON VILLA This game will now be played at Anfield on Monday, December 6, kick-off 8pm, and will be shown live on Sky Sports. NEWCASTLE UNITED v LIVERPOOL This game is to be played at St James' Park on Saturday, December 11, kick-off 5.30pm, and will be shown live by ESPN. LIVERPOOL v FULHAM This game to be played at Anfield on Saturday, December 18, kick-off 5.30pm, and will be shown live by ESPN. LIVERPOOL v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS This game will now be played at Anfield on Wednesday, December 29, kick-off 8pm, and will be shown live on Sky Sports. (LFC Official Website) Juventus want Aquilani for £10m Juventus want to take Liverpool’s Alberto Aquilani permanently for a cut-price of £10million. (tribalfootball.com)
	TUESDAY 5
	Liverpool FC statement Liverpool Football Club tonight issued the following press statement: The Board of Directors have received two excellent financial offers to buy the Club that would repay all its long-term debt. A Board meeting was called today to review these bids and approve a sale. Shortly prior to the meeting, the owners - Tom Hicks and George Gillett - sought to remove Managing Director Christian Purslow and Commercial Director Ian Ayre from the Board, seeking to replace them with Mack Hicks and Lori Kay McCutheon. (Liverpool Football Club)  Two new bids on table for Reds Two new bids have been tabled for Liverpool, one of which is from the owners of the Boston Red Sox, according to reports. It is understood that Liverpool's board and chairman Martin Broughton were in favour of recommending both of the new bids for consideration after meeting on Tuesday, but that plan was met with disagreement from the owners. Alongside the bid from the group behind successful MLB franchise the Red Sox, another offer has been tabled from a Far East consortium. The Red Sox are run by New England Sports Ventures, a group headed by John William Henry II and Tom Werner. How supporters of the five-time European champions would react to further involvement from across the Atlantic after their current American experience remains to be seen. (TEAMtalk)     Babel features as Reds lose Ryan Babel played the full 90 minutes as Liverpool Reserves slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham on Tuesday night. The Dutch winger led the line alongside Nathan Eccleston but could not find the spark to inspire the second-string who went down to a second straight loss courtesy of Benni McCarthy's 79th minute penalty. It was a bitter blow for John McMahon's side who shaded the majority of the encounter but paid the price for a series of missed opportunities, leaving them with just five points from as many matches so far this season. Liverpool Reserves: Jones, Flanagan, Robinson, Darby, Coady, Irwin, Spearing, Ince (Amoo 46), Pacheco, Eccleston, Babel. Unused Subs: Hansen, Roberts, Bruna, Suso. (LFC Official Website) Kirdi loses interest in Reds The pressure on Liverpool's owners to find a buyer before an October 15 deadline has increased after one potential buyer claimed there was no "logic" in their high asking price. Canada-based Syrian investor Yahya Kirdi said the group he is representing has shelved plans to buy the club. Kirdi told Bloomberg: "Right now is not the time for me and my group to enter into any negotiations. "Once everyone is united and there's logic in the price and the overall deal, me and my group will be prepared to return to the table." (Football 365)   Luke Young happy with Reds snub Aston Villa defender Luke Young thinks he was right to snub a transfer to Liverpool in the summer. The full-back was wanted by Roy Hodgson but opted against a move and has gone on to play in all of Villa's Premier League games so far this season. Liverpool instead signed Paul Konchesky, but the former Fulham player has not been able to help his new club in a torrid period both on an off the field. In contrast, Villa occupy eighth position in the table and Young is glad he has been playing a regular role in his club's positive start to the campaign. "I just felt that I perhaps had more of a chance, if I could get my head down and keep going, of getting in the first team at Aston Villa than I did of getting in at Liverpool," he said in the Daily Mirror. "At 31, I didn't really want to go anywhere and, on matchday, feel I was there as a back-up. "I pretty much knew that with Glen Johnson the England No 1 right-back at Anfield, I'd be watching in the Premier League and maybe playing in Europe. "I had the feeling the offer was as kind of a back-up for left-back and right-back." (Football 365) Roy: Why I can turn it around Roy Hodgson has total confidence that he can guide Liverpool up the Barclays Premier League table over the coming months. The boss - voted Manager of the Year by his peers at the League Managers' Association in May - was asked by journalists following our 2-1 defeat to Blackpool whether he had any doubts over his ability to turn things around at Anfield. He replied: "I don't think you go from being as feted as I was in May to suddenly losing any abilities I have three months later. It's a question that's going to get asked but it shouldn't really be asked by people who've been in football for a long time, because they know that in football you have good moments and bad moments." (LFC Official Website)  Torres is a derby doubt Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is already a doubt for the most significant Merseyside derby for years after it was confirmed he had strained an adductor muscle – a similar injury to the one he sustained in the World Cup final. The Spain striker limped off after just 10 minutes of the 2-1 defeat to Blackpool at Anfield on Sunday. Manager Roy Hodgson said the 26-year-old had strained his groin but did not know the severity of the injury. Torres pulled out of Spain’s squad for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland earlier today and had a scan at the club’s Melwood training ground. “Fernando was assessed earlier today at Melwood and underwent a scan this afternoon,” said Dr Peter Brukner, head of sports medicine and sports science. “He will have intensive treatment over the next couple of weeks but it is too early to say if he will be fit for the game against Everton.” (Daily Post)
	MONDAY 4
	Hodgson must fight for Anfield affection Roy Hodgson is struggling to keep his head above water at Liverpool - and TEAMtalk thinks he faces a battle for his supporters' affections. With one word the Liverpool faithful cast their vote on the new regime of Roy Hodgson - and it was not favourable. As the Reds slumped to defeat at home to Premier League newcomers Blackpool, the sound rolled down off the Kop: "Dalglish, Dalglish, Dalglish". They were referring to their beloved 'King Kenny', sitting in the main stand. The man who offered to come to the club's aid in their hour of need but was put firmly and squarely in his place by chairman Martin Broughton and chief executive Christian Purslow. (TEAMtalk) Liverpool's squad cannot be blamed for Roy Hodgson's troubles Even after defeat to Blackpool at Anfield, even after reviewing a league table which ranks Liverpool the 18th best team in the league, even after seeing another atrocious performance, even after hearing the chants for Dalglish, nobody even tried to ask Roy Hodgson whether he was considering bringing his 14-game tenure on Merseyside to an abrupt halt. Everyone knew the answer, anyway. Hodgson would not dream of committing an act tantamount to cowardice. A man of short fuse, he would treat such an enquiry with disdain. Nobody at the club has even whispered the suggestion that he may not be long for this job, that his reign in the Boot Room will not last beyond the autumn. (Rory Smith - Telegraph.co.uk)     Jovanovic denies reports Liverpool attacker Milan Jovanovic has denied making claims that he is unsettled at the club. The 29-year-old Serbia international was reported as saying earlier in the month that he was becoming frustrated at Anfield, as the Reds continue to endure a frustrating start to the season. Roy Hodgson's men fell to Premier League new-boys Blackpool on Sunday, a game in which Jovanovic came off the bench, but the former Standard Liege man denies claiming he wants to leave. "I haven't spoken to any journalists other than Liverpool's own club journalists," he told the club's official website. "I am angry. I am new here and all I'm trying to do is work and do what's best for the team. It's not important that I am on the bench. "I have signed a contract for three years and I want to stay for three years. "I feel very good at Liverpool and better players than me sit on the bench whether it's here or anywhere else. I have to learn and work to be better - it's not a problem. "I expected a challenge. I expected sometimes to be in the team and sometimes not. "And also, I don't want to speak about myself - it's much more important to talk about the team." (Sky Sports) Fairclough: Thank you all Kop legend David Fairclough today thanked the many well wishers who have sent him messages of support following a heart scare. The former Reds striker was taken to hospital at the weekend and is now on the road to recovery. Speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv, Fairclough said: "I'm really flattered with the support and also embarrassed by the reaction. "I'm extremely gobsmacked and humbled by the messages I've received and I would like to thank everybody for their kind words and best wishes. "All things being equal I will be up and about by the end of the week and back on LFC TV for 'Big Match Build Up' ahead of the Merseyside derby." (LFC Official Website) Cole recalled by England Joe Cole has been recalled to the England squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley on Tuesday, October 12. Liverpool's No.10 hasn't been selected by Fabio Capello since being part of his squad for the World Cup, and he joins Anfield teammates Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson in the squad. England squad: Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City) Defenders: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa). Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa). Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin Davies (Bolton Wanderers), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United). (LFC Official Website) Torres pulls out of Spain squad with groin injury Fernando Torres has pulled out of the Spain squad for their upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland. It comes after the Liverpool striker was forced off after just 10 minutes of yesterday's defeat to Blackpool because of a groin problem. Liverpool's first match after the international break, as they look to haul themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone, is the Merseyside derby against Everton on 17 October. (guardian.co.uk) Ray calls for Clemency Former Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence believes it is "crazy" for people to start calling for manager Roy Hodgson to be replaced. The Reds are mired in 18th in the table with just one win and six points from seven matches. However, Clemence said the new boss, who only took over on July 1, should be given time considering off-field ownership issues are at the root of many of the club's problems. "Roy Hodgson said yesterday was disappointing - that is probably an understatement at the moment," the ex-England international told Sky Sports News. "No-one expected them to be where they are in the table, although everybody expected a transitional year. "It's crazy to talk about getting rid of him - they've got an excellent manager who will get things right given time and patience. "But his hands are tied and the thing is nothing can be sorted lower down until the top end of the club is sorted out. "It's time to stay together and be patient, keep feet on the ground and make sensible decisions. I'm sure they will be able to climb again. Former defender Gary Gillespie, who won a European Cup and three championships with the club, agreed with Clemence. "It's easy to make changes and criticise people but you have to give Roy a little bit more time," he told talkSPORT. (TEAMtalk) Kuyt sorry for Anfield horror show Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has apologised to the club's fans after the 2-1 defeat to Blackpool at Anfield yesterday "It was really, really disappointing," said the Dutchman, who was by no means the worst player on the pitch. "It's probably one of the hardest defeats I've had to take since I've been here and we're sorry for the fans." (TEAMtalk)   Liverpool fans ready YouTube protest Liverpool fans have stepped up their campaign to oust the club’s current owners by starring in a viral alongside actors Ricky Tomlinson and Joe McGann. The YouTube clip is to launch on Tuesday and will feature supporters venting their anger over the £237m debt that the club’s current owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett have saddled the club with. Earlier reports had suggested that the film would feature Hollywood stars and Liverpool fans including Mike Myers, Samuel L Jackson and Daniel Craig but it is not thought that they were at the filming. (MarketingWeek)  2010-11 is Liverpool FC’s worst start to a season for 57 years Liverpool's start to the current campaign is statistically their worst since their ill-fated 1953-54 season which saw the club relegated into the Second Division. (Liverpool Echo) Disjointed, dispirited, heartless - Liverpool FC’s on-field crisis continues And so a three-year crisis off the field has now been joined by a three-month crisis on it. Roy Hodgson has been in the post as manager of Liverpool for less than 100 days. Yet already there are diehard supporters on the Kop who have clearly lost faith in him, as well as some who had little or none to begin with. Yesterday once again saw diehard Reds supporters marching upon Anfield before the match to demand once and for all the end to the Tom Hicks and George Gillett era. A good number of them too, were urging that current managing director Christian Purslow should follow him out of the door. Make no mistake, these are awful, unprecedented and uncharacteristic times for Liverpool and their supporters, who are increasingly divided by factionalism and fury over how things got to this - and how they might be sorted. But by 5pm last night, it was clear the anger from the Kop had far more to do with football, rather than finance or felons in the boardroom. Because what Liverpool and their manager are serving up to the supporters right now is worse than shoddy. It is disjointed, dispirited and heartless. (John Thompson - Liverpool Echo) Chant of Dalglish, not boos, is the most telling in home defeat Never mind the jeers at half-time and full-time, the desperate performance from his players or a dire defeat that plunges Liverpool into the relegation mire. It is instead a single word from a hugely disgruntled Kop that could ultimately have the greater ramifications for beleaguered Anfield manager Roy Hodgson. “Dalglish.” There, in a spontaneous outburst, a section of Liverpool’s disillusioned, frustrated supporters passed verdict on the new manager yesterday. “Dalglish. Dalglish.” Losing games and losing face is one thing. But losing the fans, especially just 94 days into a tumultuous reign, has become a very real possibility for Hodgson after a poor start to the Premier League campaign plumbed new depths with home defeat to promoted Blackpool. (Ian Doyle - Liverpool Daily Post) Roy Hodgson must act to stop rot at Liverpool following Blackpool defeat Roy Hodgson knows well enough that the buck will always stop with the manager, but the truth of Liverpool’s defeat against Blackpool is that the 11 players who started the game should be embarrassed. They were wearing red shirts at Anfield and produced a totally unacceptable performance in a defeat that left Liverpool in the relegation zone. It was an embarrassment. Forget about the history and tradition of the club. Pride also comes into it, but if the pride isn’t there among the players, then there is not a lot of hope for the club. Results are the manager’s responsibility and Roy knows that and that is why he is now being subjected to criticism from the supporters. The owners have also left the club in a mess, so that is another big problem. But it is up to the players to show anybody and everybody that they have the passion to turn this around and that must start when they play Everton in their next game following the international break. (Alan Hansen - Telegraph.co.uk)  Liverpool legend David Fairclough in hospital Rumours were swirling earlier that Liverpool legend “Super Sub” David Fairclough has been admitted to hospital after suffering a heart attack. Unfortunately it looks like the rumours were true however thankfully David’s condition was described as mild and looks like he should be released from hospital on Wednesday. (Empire Of The Kop) Thor Zakariassen ©