Tom Hicks, George Gillett
“The day started with a co-ordinated attempt to saturate the American media with a video decrying the behaviour of the – for the time being – owners of their club, but it has ended with something even more extraordinary with a statement of near-unprecedented bluntness on the official club website which seems to indicate a state of near civil war at boardroom level. Welcome to the world of Liverpool Football Club in October 2010. As long time observers will be aware, October the 15th is said to be the deadline for George Gillett and Tom Hicks to secure the funding to complete their takeover of the club, in the face of increasingly militant objections from supporters’ groups but, with only a week and a half left before the bank can step in and take control of the club, hopes of a clear resolution to the issue of the future of the club are being clouded by a situation that is rapidly starting to resemble chaos.” (twohundredpercent)

Liverpool civil war erupts as owners reject two buyers
“The simmering war in the Liverpool boardroom between the American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and the three other directors, broke dramatically into the open last night after Hicks and Gillett turned down two bids, described as ‘credible’, to buy the club and attempted to remove two directors from the board.” (Guardian)

Boardroom blitz; and mutual hate
“1970s British glam rockers The Sweet are still doing the rounds but no one pays much attention to them any more even though their lead guitarist moonlights as manager of Brentford FC. The Fiver, however, found itself humming the melody to their catchiest hit last night as it followed the bloody hi-jinks at Anfield, which can only be described as a Boardroom Blitz. Oh yeah it was electric, so frightfully hectic, and the Americans started leaving, because their fellow directors stopped believing. Boardroom blitz (de-dum-dum-dum). Boardroom blitz (de-dum-dum-dum). Boardroom blitz (de-dum-dum-dum).” (The Fiver)

Liverpool FC’s celebrity fans protest against owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett
“Liverpool fans in the entertainment industry offer their support to the campaign to oust the club’s current owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett” (Guardian)

“It has now gone far enough to stop even being amusing to the neutral. Supporters of Manchester United and Everton may seek to disagree, but there was something sombre about Liverpool’s home defeat at the hands of Blackpool this afternoon. We are some way from reading the last rites of the club, but there is something in the air at Anfield. That familiar stench of dry rot hangs over the club this evening. The spirit of Liverpool Football Club feels broken. With each passing week, the feeling that this is but a mere blip has receded further and further into the distance and the dread reality for Liverpool supporters, that a season of having to fight the unthinkable fight – the fight to hold onto the club’s place in the Premier League itself – might be looming on the horizon.” (twohundredpercent)

Hodgson under pressure as Liverpool fans turn
“Just weeks after hailing Roy Hodgson’s arrival as Liverpool manager and predicting a return to glory, fans have turned on the veteran coach and started chanting the name of the man who once led them to domination of the English game.” (Yahoo)

“Liverpool’s much-publicised issues off the pitch have been eclipsed by their problems on it as the side slumped to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at home to Premier League newcomers Blackpool. Thousands of fans staged a pre-match protest march against the continuing ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett but there was a real danger of revolt inside Anfield at the final whistle.” (ESPN)

Pressure mounts on Roy Hodgson as Liverpool lose to Blackpool
“Fourteen games as Liverpool manager and the Kop has returned its verdict on Roy Hodgson. It was 11 minutes before five o’clock, Blackpool were seconds from a thoroughly merited win that cemented the Anfield club’s position in the bottom three and then it started: ‘Dalglish. Dalglish, Dalglish!’ came the chant. On current form it will not be the ownership that changes hands in mid-October but a manager who is looking increasingly out of his depth.” (Guardian)

“As one of the most liked and respected managers in English football, Roy Hodgson would probably have expected a little more time to settle in after deservedly taking his seat at the highest profile job of his career. As it is, his Liverpool side welcome Blackpool to Anfield today in dire need of a result, and with less confidence in achieving it than might ever have been anticipated. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, of course. Hodgson arrived as the reliable, steady hand to settle things after the turbulent final year of Rafa Benítez’s reign.” (WSC)

“Liverpool escaped with a goalless draw in their Europa League Group K clash in Utrecht after another disjointed and disappointing performance. A point in the Stadion Galgenwaard, where the hosts had won their previous six matches, was no disgrace but it was hardly one of those classic, gritty away performances in Europe.” (ESPN)

FC Utrecht 0-0 Liverpool – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Europa League
(The 90th Minute)