Liverpool’s last decade has involved almost as many rollercoaster rides as Walt Disney theme parks. Initial optimism on the part of the Anfield fan base, in regards to American leadership and money helping the club to win the Premier League, has largely retreated. A quick browse of the LFC Twittersphere over the last few seasons and, in particular, culminating with the baffling decision to keep Brendan Rodgers during the summer of 2015, would showcase the growing levels of supporters’ discontent. So, the questions to be asked are how did we get here, and where do we go?
Liverpool’s Last Decade
Liverpool initially sampled Uncle Sam-style ownership when George Gillett and Tom Hicks created much initial fanfare, but ultimately proved to be disruptive as owners. Constant financial fracas surrounding the not-so-dynamic duo rapidly turned a Champions League-winning club into stumbling giants. Boastful promises of a new stadium in Stanley Park coupled with disastrous public relations and shaky finances quickly transformed the American dream into an Anfield nightmare.
Liverpool fans, already frustrated with floundering performances on the pitch and despairing at the thought of financial ruin, heartily welcomed the Fenway Sports Group bail-out in 2010. In almost six calendar years with the FSG owners, the club witnessed mediocre overall success (League Cup Winners 2011-12). The thrilling title chase during the edge-of-the-seat Brendan Rodgers era was countermanded by retirements (Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard) and the sales of superstar players like Luis Suárez and the talented youngster, Raheem Sterling. These losses compounded the infamous “Transfer Committee” failings and triggered a further tumbling into mid-table obscurity. The current American owners finally had to admit that the Rodgers era was never going to pan out and installed Jürgen Klopp before the 2015-16 season had reached Halloween.
Klopp’s tenure, of course, is in its infancy and it would be unfair at this juncture to analyse his impact on the club; the initial signs, however, are upbeat, with some brilliant league performances against Manchester City and Chelsea, interspersed with some abject surrenders against West Ham and Watford. This Jekyll and Hyde persona of the past decade on the pitch personifies Liverpool under American ownership; a see-saw ride that often lurches from turbulent transformation to transformation.
Recent ticket price standoffs with the Anfield fanbase could, however, be a watershed moment. The American penchant for treating everyone as a customer, as someone to make a “buck” from has been unequivocally challenged by the regular match day supporter. FSG rapidly performed an about face and rolled back the proposed ticket price changes. Victory over the American corporatism of FSG has given many Reds fans a sense of having a voice in the club again for the first time since the Moores family abdicated ownership of Anfield.
FSG must also sense that this is a pivotal point in their ownership of the club; on the business side, a new addition to the main stand will increase capacity and match day revenue. Playing matters – for the first time in a few years – also seem to have the potential for success. Klopp has quickly built a passionate rapport with the fanbase and, if he can secure League Cup and Europa League success with the squad he inherited, a sporting resurrection of sorts will have transpired.
It is my firm assessment that Fenway Sports Group must back Klopp to the hilt with transfer funds in the summer. The Joël Matip free transfer is undoubtedly a coup, but Klopp will need funds to renew what will surely be a cleared out squad in the summer window. It is not unimaginable to see the departures of perhaps Kolo Touré, Ádám Bogdán, Martin Škrtel, Joe Allen, Adam Lallana, Lucas, and Christian Benteke at the end of the current campaign. Top class goalkeepers are the bedrock of the great sides and Klopp must surely see Simon Mignolet as a number two going forward, once he secures a top number one shot-stopper.
Nothing short of valid challenges to the Premier League and yearly entries into the Champions League will satisfy Liverpool fans. The success-starved years under American ownership cannot continue indefinitely if Liverpool are to return to the zenith of the English and European game. If FSG and Klopp can’t deliver on-field success, a departure to non-American ownership may soon be vociferously sought by Kopites.
Main image courtesy of Liverpool FC
