News that he's indeed coming to Anfield tonight, will we serve him to a barrage of abuse or are we gonna concentrate on the game and the players ?
I hope it's the latter.
I hope it's the latter.
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks will be at Anfield for the club's Champions League semi-final, first-leg against Chelsea, despite fears of a hostile reception.
American Hicks is unpopular among Reds fans as a boardroom battle with co-owner George Gillett rages on.
Gillett will not be at the game but it is believed his son Foster will be there hosting DIC representatives.
DIC lost the race to buy the club last year but Gillett is reportedly keen to sell his stake to the group.
Hicks is expected to be in the directors' box along with chief executive Rick Parry, who he has asked to resign, as well as Gillett's son and prospective DIC guests.
A statement from Merseyside Police read: "We can confirm that advice has been given to Liverpool Football club regarding the attendance of the club's owners.
The players are focused on football because we know it is really important now
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez
"However, we are not in a position to discuss any individual's safety. As with any other football event, the safety of those attending has been reviewed.
"Merseyside Police has deployed the appropriate number of police officers alongside stewards to tonight's match."
Gillett and Hicks are in the middle of a bitter power struggle.
The American duo took control of Liverpool in a deal worth £218.9m in February 2007 but the relationship between the two men broke down some time ago, with the pair no longer on speaking terms.
Their falling-out has led to a war of words breaking out in the Anfield boardroom and in a television interview last week, Hicks defiantly outlined his own plans for the future of the club as well again calling for Parry's resignation and claiming the chief executive's tenure was a "disaster".
Gillett, an ally of Parry, responded by saying he would not sell his stake to Hicks and by inviting DIC to the first leg of the European showdown with Chelsea, he has made a clear statement of intent.
DIC has been trying to buy the club for 18 months, having been beaten by Hicks and Gillett just over a year ago.
606: DEBATE
What we need is a strong dynamic owner, with a vision for the future
steviegwearsacape
The investment group seemed to have tied up a deal at the turn of the year, only for Hicks to send a representative to Dubai for talks before pulling the plug on the possible sale.
It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley will be among Gillett's party, along with chief executive Samir Al-Ansari.
BBC Radio 5 Live correspondent Juliette Ferrington is at Anfield and said: "Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is expected to arrive at Anfield a few hours before kick-off with a police escort due to the ill-feelings towards him amongst the Liverpool fan base.
"Merseyside Police had expressed concern at his presence here tonight but Hicks will be taking his seat on the front row of the directors' box - he is already in the city. Representatives of DIC are also here tonight."
For his part, Benitez has been keen to divert attention away from the row and hopes his players will not be distracted ahead of the vital semi-final with Chelsea.
"The players are focused on football because we know it is really important now," he stated. "You cannot think and talk about other things because it is better that you do not say anything."
American Hicks is unpopular among Reds fans as a boardroom battle with co-owner George Gillett rages on.
Gillett will not be at the game but it is believed his son Foster will be there hosting DIC representatives.
DIC lost the race to buy the club last year but Gillett is reportedly keen to sell his stake to the group.
Hicks is expected to be in the directors' box along with chief executive Rick Parry, who he has asked to resign, as well as Gillett's son and prospective DIC guests.
A statement from Merseyside Police read: "We can confirm that advice has been given to Liverpool Football club regarding the attendance of the club's owners.
The players are focused on football because we know it is really important now
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez
"However, we are not in a position to discuss any individual's safety. As with any other football event, the safety of those attending has been reviewed.
"Merseyside Police has deployed the appropriate number of police officers alongside stewards to tonight's match."
Gillett and Hicks are in the middle of a bitter power struggle.
The American duo took control of Liverpool in a deal worth £218.9m in February 2007 but the relationship between the two men broke down some time ago, with the pair no longer on speaking terms.
Their falling-out has led to a war of words breaking out in the Anfield boardroom and in a television interview last week, Hicks defiantly outlined his own plans for the future of the club as well again calling for Parry's resignation and claiming the chief executive's tenure was a "disaster".
Gillett, an ally of Parry, responded by saying he would not sell his stake to Hicks and by inviting DIC to the first leg of the European showdown with Chelsea, he has made a clear statement of intent.
DIC has been trying to buy the club for 18 months, having been beaten by Hicks and Gillett just over a year ago.
606: DEBATE
What we need is a strong dynamic owner, with a vision for the future
steviegwearsacape
The investment group seemed to have tied up a deal at the turn of the year, only for Hicks to send a representative to Dubai for talks before pulling the plug on the possible sale.
It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley will be among Gillett's party, along with chief executive Samir Al-Ansari.
BBC Radio 5 Live correspondent Juliette Ferrington is at Anfield and said: "Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is expected to arrive at Anfield a few hours before kick-off with a police escort due to the ill-feelings towards him amongst the Liverpool fan base.
"Merseyside Police had expressed concern at his presence here tonight but Hicks will be taking his seat on the front row of the directors' box - he is already in the city. Representatives of DIC are also here tonight."
For his part, Benitez has been keen to divert attention away from the row and hopes his players will not be distracted ahead of the vital semi-final with Chelsea.
"The players are focused on football because we know it is really important now," he stated. "You cannot think and talk about other things because it is better that you do not say anything."
RAFA
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