What's Tom Hicks smiling about? Very little.
The cloud that has been hanging over Anfield for the last year or so – the Hicks and Gillett-shaped cloud – has often been blamed for the decline in Liverpool’s performances on the pitch.
So does that mean that with the current light at the end of the tunnel – the baseball-shaped light – shining through the gloom that the former European giants will start to play better? Will the understandably improved mood around the club translate into points on the board?
One glance at the Premier League table tells you one thing – nothing is going to make things worse at Liverpool right now. Third from bottom, six points from seven games and, whisper it, in the relegation zone. It’s far too early in the season for anyone to panic but something has to change and manager Roy Hodgson has said many times it needs to start at the top.
You get the impression from Hodgson that he feels like his hands are tied at the moment, but he should still be doing better with the players at his disposal. Benitez left a lot of average players behind but he also left Torres, Gerrard, Carragher and a couple of others. Relegation candidates they should not be.
It has been said that the players are hiding behind the boardroom turmoil as an excuse for underperforming and to some extent that’s true. It shouldn’t matter what goes on behind he scenes when those players run out on the pitch and for anyone to claim that Liverpool are in 18th position because of it is ridiculous.
That said, it does play a small part. The doom and gloom has spread to the fans and hey in turn have passed that on to the pitch during games. Let me be clear, I’m not blaming the supporters, merely showing the path that the depression at the top has taken to the players.
That there is now hope in the form of New England Sports Ventures, owners of the rejuvenated Boston Red Sox, will follow a similar path. The current chairman Martin Broughton will be feeling happier, Roy Hodgson will be allowing himself optimistic thoughts, the fans (some of them at least), will be feeling that too and on Sunday I expect that to translate to the players as they run out at Goodison Park for what is the most important Scouse Derby in years.
It’s not just pride Liverpool and Everton – only one place and a marginally better goal difference ahead of their rivals remember – are playing for. The game could well set the tone for the rest of the season for each club. Defeat would be a massive blow to the players’ confidence, while victory will provide a much needed shot in the arm for both clubs.
Just a couple of days ago my money would have been on Everton. They have performed better than a so far feckless Liverpool side and had more reason to be quietly confident playing at home.
Now I’m not so sure. This seemingly imminent take over of Liverpool, wiping out their debt and leaving a clean slate for Hodgson to begin building a team in his own image, should uplift the players as well as the fans. I now expect a more aggressive, more confident Liverpool to take to the field and a narrow victory to follow.
Even a 1-0 win at the home of their fiercest rivals will do. From there, the only way is up for Hodgson, Liverpool and New England Sports Ventures.
