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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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1Manchester CityMan City36267391335885
2Arsenal36265588286083
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs361961171591263
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd35166135255-354
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


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