Liverpool on Red alert: 10,000 fans to protest march on Anfield as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney lose fitness battles ahead of crunch clash
by JOHN EDWARDS
Last updated at 11:12 AM on 23rd October 2009
Angry Liverpool fans are planning a 10,000-strong protest march on Sunday in a renewed attempt to drive co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett out of Anfield.
Liverpool will step up security for the visit of Manchester United in an eagerly anticipated clash, which is likely to be played out without home skipper Steven Gerrard and United talisman Wayne Rooney.
As the crisis at Anfield grows, supporters group Spirit of Shankly have reacted to the Americans' expected presence at the crunch Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United by organising a demonstration against them.
Kop that: Liverpool fans made their feelings known at Anfield on Tuesday night and are likely to do the same on Sunday
Around 4,000 banner-waving protesters descended on the famous old ground prior to last season's match against United but such is the strength of feeling at the club that at least double are expected on Sunday.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been in the firing line since Tuesday, when his side were beaten 2-1 by Lyon in the Champions League - their fourth consecutive defeat.
Reflecting on Liverpool's worst losing streak for 22 years, SoS spokesman Paul Gardner said: 'There are two culprits - Gillett and Hicks.
'They are the ones who put us into £245million worth of debt, promised us a stadium which has not been built, took money out of the club to pay for their own expenses. We want the owners out now.'
Liverpool Supporters Club spokesman Les Lawson it won't be easy to oust the Americans, but he won't be deterred.
'There have been protests before, but the Americans do have elephant-thick skin,' said Lawson,
'But there is no point in sitting back and doing nothing. This will be a direct action to keep the campaign in the public eye.
'There are plenty of other things going on behind the scenes to keep the campaign going, though. The fans have to do something to show their anger at the way Liverpool is being run.'
There is mixed news on the injury front, with Gerrard expected to be ruled out but Fernando Torres likely to win his fight for fitness, along with Glen Johnson.
Not ready: Alberto Aquilani won't be considered for the clash with Manchester United on Sunday
Rooney remains a doubt for United. The England striker has been out with a calf injury since England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine a fortnight ago.
Benitez needs a positive response to stay within range of the Premier League pacesetters and silence the doubters as to his position. But he has warned fans his £20m summer signing Alberto Aquilani will not be making an impact for some time.
The Italian will not play against United and Benitez said: 'Always, with a new player, we talk about the problems they have settling down because the Premier League is quick and more physical.
'So for a new player who has been injured, like Alberto, it will be even more difficult.'
Although Jose Mourinho is known to be the preferred choice of Hicks and Gillett to take over from Benitez, the cost of paying him off, as revealed in Sportsmail yesterday, and financing the Inter Milan boss's arrival and transfer demands would prove prohibitive.
Benitez knows victory against United would go a long way to silencing his critics while dispelling a growing theory that Liverpool rely too heavily on Gerrard and Torres.
Big loss: Steven Gerrard is also likely to miss Sunday's crucial class
Chelsea skipper John Terry chipped in by saying: 'When Stevie Gerrard and Fernando Torres get injured, they seem to be short in the squad they've got. If you take Torres out of their team, who do they bring in? It's difficult.
'We have players who are not here only to make up the numbers.'
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge underlined the significance of avoiding a fifth straight defeat by saying: 'How the season unfolds could hinge on this game. You can tell confidence is low but this is where you find out about them.'
by JOHN EDWARDS
Last updated at 11:12 AM on 23rd October 2009
Angry Liverpool fans are planning a 10,000-strong protest march on Sunday in a renewed attempt to drive co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett out of Anfield.
Liverpool will step up security for the visit of Manchester United in an eagerly anticipated clash, which is likely to be played out without home skipper Steven Gerrard and United talisman Wayne Rooney.
As the crisis at Anfield grows, supporters group Spirit of Shankly have reacted to the Americans' expected presence at the crunch Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United by organising a demonstration against them.
Kop that: Liverpool fans made their feelings known at Anfield on Tuesday night and are likely to do the same on Sunday
Around 4,000 banner-waving protesters descended on the famous old ground prior to last season's match against United but such is the strength of feeling at the club that at least double are expected on Sunday.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been in the firing line since Tuesday, when his side were beaten 2-1 by Lyon in the Champions League - their fourth consecutive defeat.
Reflecting on Liverpool's worst losing streak for 22 years, SoS spokesman Paul Gardner said: 'There are two culprits - Gillett and Hicks.
'They are the ones who put us into £245million worth of debt, promised us a stadium which has not been built, took money out of the club to pay for their own expenses. We want the owners out now.'
Liverpool Supporters Club spokesman Les Lawson it won't be easy to oust the Americans, but he won't be deterred.
'There have been protests before, but the Americans do have elephant-thick skin,' said Lawson,
'But there is no point in sitting back and doing nothing. This will be a direct action to keep the campaign in the public eye.
'There are plenty of other things going on behind the scenes to keep the campaign going, though. The fans have to do something to show their anger at the way Liverpool is being run.'
There is mixed news on the injury front, with Gerrard expected to be ruled out but Fernando Torres likely to win his fight for fitness, along with Glen Johnson.
Not ready: Alberto Aquilani won't be considered for the clash with Manchester United on Sunday
Rooney remains a doubt for United. The England striker has been out with a calf injury since England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine a fortnight ago.
Benitez needs a positive response to stay within range of the Premier League pacesetters and silence the doubters as to his position. But he has warned fans his £20m summer signing Alberto Aquilani will not be making an impact for some time.
The Italian will not play against United and Benitez said: 'Always, with a new player, we talk about the problems they have settling down because the Premier League is quick and more physical.
'So for a new player who has been injured, like Alberto, it will be even more difficult.'
Although Jose Mourinho is known to be the preferred choice of Hicks and Gillett to take over from Benitez, the cost of paying him off, as revealed in Sportsmail yesterday, and financing the Inter Milan boss's arrival and transfer demands would prove prohibitive.
Benitez knows victory against United would go a long way to silencing his critics while dispelling a growing theory that Liverpool rely too heavily on Gerrard and Torres.
Big loss: Steven Gerrard is also likely to miss Sunday's crucial class
Chelsea skipper John Terry chipped in by saying: 'When Stevie Gerrard and Fernando Torres get injured, they seem to be short in the squad they've got. If you take Torres out of their team, who do they bring in? It's difficult.
'We have players who are not here only to make up the numbers.'
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge underlined the significance of avoiding a fifth straight defeat by saying: 'How the season unfolds could hinge on this game. You can tell confidence is low but this is where you find out about them.'
