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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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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