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On This Day: Hicks and Gillett complete Liverpool takeover

On This Day: Hicks and Gillett complete Liverpool takeover
© Reuters
Things quickly deteriorated as Reds boss Rafael Benitez became frustrated at the lack of spending.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett's takeover of Liverpool was completed on this day in 2007.

After gaining unconditional control of the club by passing the 80 per cent threshold of share agreements the previous month, the deal was formally concluded when shareholders agreed to sell the American tycoons 98.6 per cent of the club's shares.

Liverpool's board had initially agreed to the takeover after rejecting a rival bid from Dubai International Capital.

Their Anfield reign got off to a promising start as the duo promised to back boss Rafael Benitez and added Fernando Torres just months after taking control.

But things quickly deteriorated and Benitez became frustrated at the lack of spending, with rumours of Hicks and Gillett meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann while the Spaniard was still in charge.

After less than a year at the club, Reds fans were protesting against their new owners and the duo were never able to recover.

With boardroom unrest, sackings and hirings, the pair eventually sold to New England Sports Venture (NESV) – headed by multi-millionaire Boston Red Sox owner John W. Henry – after a messy High Court battle.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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