Kop that: Liverpool fans made their feelings known
at Anfield on Tuesday night and are likely to do the same on
Sunday
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.
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.
Pain game: Wayne Rooney limps off after England
lose in Ukraine
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.'
