Anfield power change closer.

[AFII]

Liverpool moved a step nearer a change of ownership yesterday after an Anfield board meeting to discuss a proposed takeover by investment group Dubai International Capital.

Members of DIC flew to Merseyside to discuss final details of the deal, amid suggestions that chairman David Moores may retain some of his shares or that a third party may be invited to supplement the Dubai group's massive investment.

The DIC contingent will remain in the area until after the weekend, when they hope to be able to announce that agreement has been reached for a power shift that would finance a new stadium at nearby Stanley Park and provide extra transfer funds for manager Rafa Benitez.

Liverpool are waiting for a response from Blackburn, after offering them Stephen Warnock in a straight swop for Lucas Neill, but fear complications over Javier Mascherano's availability may scupper their hopes of signing the Argentina midfielder from West Ham.

Benitez has come under fire from former Liverpool midfielder and coach Sammy Lee over his claims that Bolton are a route one side who place undue pressure on referees.

Currently assistant to manager Sam Allardyce at Bolton, Lee hit back by saying: "We respect other people's opinion and how other clubs play, but we would just hope that they would grant us the same respect.

"Rafa Benitez's comments were particularly scathing. They were hurtful and very disappointing, but what can you do? There is a misconception about Bolton, and it has gone on for a long time.

"When people criticise us, I take it as a slight on myself because I am part of what Sam is trying to achieve here."

CLICKY from The Daily Mail

[REDSCOUSER]

Warnock for Neill. FFS.

[Shaggy]

Quit the whinging Sammy.

Nice to hear of some more progress on the DIC front at last.

[ronan]

dont understand what sammy lee sees in bolton
hes been on before saying how theyre doing great things there and how good allardyce's ideas are.
where as in fact they play nothing but percentage football
get enough free kicks and long throws into the box and eventually something will fall your way;ally this with an overly strong physichal presence .
coming from a great tradition as liverpool and its beliefs in football,i.e. pass n move etc theyre strange comments from lee

[einar]

When this investment goes through, the change will be so great that only the ones who where adults in the 70´ and early 80´ can comprehend.

[REDSCOUSER]

S Lee has got the fat sam syndrome now, whine whine whine

[mick the click]

I can't ever remember a manager before Rafa complaining about a Liverpool team being roughed up - and he's done that.

I have to say that I find that disappointing from someone who claims to be steeped in our history - can you imagine what Shanks Paisley and Fagan would have said to their team being intimidated/outmuscled by Fat Sam's Bolton????

Rafa is good - but is he scared he's fielding a team of pussies?

[kurtangle01]

I'd be surprised if the takeover is announced just after this weekend but you never know, It has to happen some time I suppose.

[Mattshark]

I'd be surprised if the takeover is announced just after this weekend but you never know, It has to happen some time I suppose.

Then you'll have to get a new sig!

[kurtangle01]

Then you'll have to get a new sig!

The sig will change when the new owners are in place and not before. Don't want to tempt fate now do we?

[Marky]

I can't ever remember a manager before Rafa complaining about a Liverpool team being roughed up - and he's done that.

I have to say that I find that disappointing from someone who claims to be steeped in our history - can you imagine what Shanks Paisley and Fagan would have said to their team being intimidated/outmuscled by Fat Sam's Bolton????

Rafa is good - but is he scared he's fielding a team of pussies?

Fair enough, i too was slighty annoyed and perplexed at Rafa's comments but you have to rememeber football is alot different now compared to the 70's and 80's, Rafa came from Spain where it's alot less physical.
Shanks, Fagan and Paiseley were well used to the physical side of football in thier day hence never moaned about it.

[Neil Young]

I can't ever remember a manager before Rafa complaining about a Liverpool team being roughed up - and he's done that.

I have to say that I find that disappointing from someone who claims to be steeped in our history - can you imagine what Shanks Paisley and Fagan would have said to their team being intimidated/outmuscled by Fat Sam's Bolton????

Rafa is good - but is he scared he's fielding a team of pussies?

I think that's not the point. Rafa was indulging in the familiar game of managers of putting pressure on the referee just like Wenger did about Johnson when Arsenal played Everton and like Mourinho and Ferguson do all the time. It's not particularly edifying and isn't always effective but it's not about LFC players not being hard enough IMO.

Anyway, we certainly didn't get outmuscled on Monday, from Gerrard's early forearm smash to the side of Speed's head onwards.

[Jack D Rips]

I think that's not the point. Rafa was indulging in the familiar game of managers of putting pressure on the referee just like Wenger did about Johnson when Arsenal played Everton and like Mourinho and Ferguson do all the time. It's not particularly edifying and isn't always effective but it's not about LFC players not being hard enough IMO.

Anyway, we certainly didn't get outmuscled on Monday, from Gerrard's early forearm smash to the side of Speed's head onwards.

That is the point. We have enough big men in our side to deal with any rough tactics. You cant expect every team we meet to play the same style. If they did it would be a very boring league. It is up to the manager to suss out the styles and deal with them.

Personally I would prefer if Rafa kept his opinions of other club to himself and his players.

[Parm]

dont understand what sammy lee sees in bolton
hes been on before saying how theyre doing great things there and how good allardyce's ideas are.
where as in fact they play nothing but percentage football
get enough free kicks and long throws into the box and eventually something will fall your way;ally this with an overly strong physichal presence .
coming from a great tradition as liverpool and its beliefs in football,i.e. pass n move etc theyre strange comments from lee

suppose he's only sticking up for Bolotn and towing the party line.

[SouthAfricaRed]

I can't ever remember a manager before Rafa complaining about a Liverpool team being roughed up - and he's done that.

I have to say that I find that disappointing from someone who claims to be steeped in our history - can you imagine what Shanks Paisley and Fagan would have said to their team being intimidated/outmuscled by Fat Sam's Bolton????

Rafa is good - but is he scared he's fielding a team of pussies?

I think Rafa's main complaint is not about rough tactics but players diving and cheating to get the referees to give decisions to them.

I can only imagine what Shankly would have said about players like Drogba and Robben