Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool's title quest in jeopardy as Anfield is torn apart by infighting
Troubled times: Steven Gerrard
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Revelations that senior Liverpool officials have conducted takeover talks with the Al-Kharafis have sparked fears of a renewed rift between the club's American co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Detailed negotiations, led by Liverpool finance director Phil Nash and authorised by Hicks, have taken place in Kuwait and London with Al-Kharafi's representatives.
But it is unclear whether Gillett had sanctioned the talks and a new falling-out between the American owners is brewing over the terms of any potential sale.
As Steven Gerrard, fresh from his appearance at magistrates' court, leads Liverpool out at Anfield today to take on Everton in an FA Cup fourth-round tie fraught with the tension and added significance of a Merseyside derby, the club are in danger of imploding.
With Hicks and Gillett due in Merseyside this week for the Premier League clash with Chelsea a week today, another confrontation is imminent as discussions continue with Rafael Benitez over a prolonged contract.
'If they are coming, then why not talk?' said Benitez, who wants more control over transfers, diminishing the role of current chief executive Rick Parry, before he signs an extension to his contract, which is scheduled to end in June 2010.
Although Hicks has said he shares some of the concerns that Benitez has over the role of Parry, it appears those talks are also heading for an impasse.
There has been contact between Hicks and Benitez in the past week but they have not spoken and there has been no progress towards a resolution.
Whatever Hicks has indicated, neither Gillett nor the other members of the Liverpool board, which includes Parry, David Moores and Gillett's son, Foster, will agree to the role Benitez envisages for himself.
Split: George Gillett
Arguing: Tom Hicks
At present, the indications point to a summer exit for Benitez, with Real Madrid, who have presidential elections scheduled for July, lurking in the background.
It is inconceivable that Benitez, who once coached the Real Madrid youth team, will not be approached. In the meantime, there is the small matter of Everton today, and matches with Wigan and Chelsea this week.
Benitez said: 'Against Everton, I don't see the possibility of players playing a derby at Anfield being distracted because they can hear things from outside. The Press can talk about distraction but I guarantee that the players in the [Premier League] game against Stoke, they were really, really focused. They weren't distracted. It is easy to say, but I can guarantee it was not the case.
'You know the solution? To win against Everton. To beat Wigan, to beat Chelsea, so people can talk of winning games and it will be easier for us to cope with the pressure.'
Should the chaos that currently surrounds the club see Benitez leaving, it would surely also mean the eventual departure of key players Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso, as well as a host of Spanish-speaking squad members, undermining the structure of the club.
Ironically, less than a month ago Liverpool looked to be in better shape than at any time in the past 19 years.
All the key elements of Benitez's contract had been agreed, with Hicks and Gillett's representatives present at all meetings.
The line of accountability, with Parry reaffirmed as the pivotal negotiator and driver for transfers, had been agreed and executive accountability seemed to be clear.
The club went out and beat Newcastle 5-1 three days after Christmas, and all seemed well.
Back in action: Gerrard (right) returns to training after his court appearance
But that night, Liverpool captain Gerrard was at a Southport nightclub when incidents occurred which ended with him being charged with assault, which he denied this week in court.
The following week, Benitez launched his infamous, prolonged attack on Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, which preceded the dismal 0-0 draw at Stoke.
And the week after that, the manager made his bid for power, saying that he, not the chief executive, should allocate where and how the transfer budget was spent.
Hicks immediately expressed his sympathy but there was none from the Gillett camp.
The board had tried to establish a structure that mirrored the accountability Arsene Wenger has to his board at Arsenal, and considered any checks and balances to be normal in a management situation.
There is enormous frustration with Benitez's tactic of publicising his differences in an attempt to force the hand of the board, and even his attack on Ferguson annoyed some of the directors, who felt it was ill-advised.
Gillett is in a stronger position now after he managed last week to renegotiate a£55 million loan he has with Mill Financial, which was crucial to his stake in the club.
Had he not obtained re-financing, then he would have had to cede control to Hicks in the sale of the club.
Loyal: Liverpool fans deserve better
And it is Hicks who is driving negotiations with the Al-Kharafi family, with a view to removing Gillett from the equation and maintaining a role for himself at the club.
The Al-Kharafi family were close to paying£500m for the club in July, plus another£100m based on their future financial performance, before pulling out at the last minute.
The asking price has tumbled since the summer and the fact that the renewed talks have been leaked will not please the Kuwaiti construction and engineering dynasty, who were said to have been irked by Hicks' desire to stay at the club when negotiations were at their height in July.
No buyer is likely to be in a hurry to make a bid, with Liverpool facing the threat of passing into the hands of a bank, RBS, when the co-owners'£350m loan expires in July. Every day of delay means the price goes down; only an impetuous or naive buyer would rush now.
The indications from the Middle East last night were that a new al-Kharafi bid is not on the cards, not least because Arab businessmen hate their business being played out in public.
They and other potential bidders will probably be more than happy to let the Americans sweat until the summer.
Liverpool's owners are confident they will be able to agree an extension of the loan with RBS and their junior partner Wachovia, even though both banks have had to be rescued from collapse.
Liverpool FC are capable of servicing the loans, they reason, so the failing banks will concentrate on withdrawing finance from companies not meeting their commitments.
Yet, all the signs from RBS are that the loan will not be extended beyond July and that the owners will have to either find a new bank to back them, which would be almost impossible, or sell the club.
The famous 'This is Anfield' sign in the players' tunnel once exuded the assurance of a club that knew it was the best in the country.
These days they may as well hang 'For Sale' on the Liver Bird. ' £400 million o.n.o. Any offers considered.'
More...
Pennant blasts Benitez: Rafa forced me to leave Liverpool because I'm English
Liverpool boss Benitez has no concerns over captain Gerrard
Liverpool need not walk alone if they can win it together
Liverpool FC: All the latest news from across the web
