Football

How FSG have turned Liverpool dreams into reality by keeping four key promises


Nine years ago John W Henry declared that FSG, then known as New England Sports Ventures, are “here to win” and insisted he was ready to “do whatever is necessary” to make it happen.

During his reign Liverpool have had four managers, reached several cup finals and spent millions in the transfer market to turn the club back into the powerhouse it once was.

Last season Liverpool missed out on claiming their first Premier League title by just a single point, but this disappointment was short-lived as the Reds went on to claim their sixth Champions League trophy of the club’s history.

And under the guidance of boss Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have made a fantastic start this season, as they have taken maximum points in the league after eight games, while also conceding the fewest goals.

When Henry took control back in 2010 four key promises were made, they were: to reduce the debt placed on the club from the previous owners, to return the club to greatness on and off the field, to compete for trophies and to return the club to having a culture of winning.

NESV had the goal of reducing the club’s debt in order to be able to invest in the best players on the transfer market.

At the time they said they were “committed to creating a long-term, financially strong foundation for the club and dedicated to ensuring the club has the financial resources to be successful again and attract the best players.”

Liverpool’s financial results for 2011 revealed the club had an annual loss of nearly £50million before tax and by the 2017/18 season that had been turned into a £106m profit after tax.

During this time Liverpool had also managed to spend huge sums on players, with the likes of Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane joining the club.

In the 2010/11 season Liverpool finished 6th in the Premier League but three years later they managed to finish 2nd under then boss Brendan Rodgers.

However, the Northern Irish coach struggled to replicate that impressive feat and was replaced with Jurgen Klopp in 2015.

The German finished 8th in his first season but followed this up with two fourth-place finishes before last season’s nail-biting finish.

As for competing for trophies, Henry said on the day of the takeover that NESV had a “shared objective of stabilising the club and ultimately returning Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successful and competing for trophies.”

In the 2011/12 season under manager Kenny Daglish, Liverpool won the League Cup but the Reds would have to wait until last season before securing another trophy.

In 2018 Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Ukraine but the following year they comfortably saw off Tottenham in the final in Spain.

Klopp then added another European Super Cup to the trophy cabinet at the beginning of this season, when the Reds beat Chelsea on penalties in Azerbaijan.

Liverpool have come a long way in nine years but now boast a team and a manager that can rival and side in the world and perhaps this season will be the year they fairly claim their first Premier League title.



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