Liverpool supporters have offered up mixed reactions to reports that the club has been put up for sale by owners Fenway Sports Group.
Less than two hours after today's Champions League Last 16 draw paired the Reds against huge rival Real Madrid, The Athletic journalist David Ornstein broke news claiming that the Merseyside club was on the market, with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley assisting FSG with the evaluation process.
FSG have been the owners of Liverpool Football Club since October 15, 2010, but would now appear to be prepared to pass the mantel onto someone else as the club tries to keep pace with cash-rich outfits like Manchester City and Newcastle United.
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As the news broke today, fans were quick to share their views on the bombshell announcement.
@GbeminiyiS tweeted: "Well it looks like #FSG have realised that they can’t compete with the big spenders and it’s time to go. All I’ll say is thank you for steadying the ship and giving us a platform to win everything possible whilst improving our club infrastructure. Onwards and upwards."
@Jaaay_sus said: "If #LFC get bought by an oil money billionaire it will spell the end for #City. If we can match them financially no player would choose City over Liverpool."
@HotActionKOP added: "I'd be all in for the "right" owners to take us to the next level.... Let's GOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Andrea Dawn was torn on the news. She Tweeted: "Too all the #LFC fans celebrating FSG putting the club up for sale. I have defended them in the past, and while I'm not saying they shouldn't sell, I'm actually rather neutral on them, remember the grass isn't always greener."
@redibled was dubious off exactly where the sale would take the club, Tweeting: "For a decade we’ve stood and beat them but it’s looking like we now have to join them, in getting in soulless super rich money givers regardless of were it comes from. Gonna become what we detest just to keep up."
@rahulpuri was not shocked to hear the news, Tweeting: "Does this surprise me? No. It's been obvious that #FSG haven't got the stomach to keep on funding football and post the Super League collapse their 'closed' league structure brings too much risk. Now the question is who next?"
@BookieBasher118 sounded a note of caution. He wrote: " #FSG out is fantastic news, running the club solely as a business with the aim of making profit. #LFC need to be very careful who the next owners are and take heed of what’s happening around them ie; Newcastle."
Despite the Reds almost completing a clean sweep of all four major trophies last season, FSG have been criticised in some quarters by supporters for not investing heavily enough in the first team squad, allowing Manchester City to have the edge on their Premier League rivals.
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