As Liverpool progressed to their ninth European Cup
semi-final with a 5-3 aggregate victory over Arsenal last night, a
match enjoyed by 41,985 spectators crammed into Anfield as well as
the millions watching on TV, just where were the club's two
estranged American owners?
Well, conviently or not, they were thousands of miles
apart on different sides of the world as the match kicked off.
Co-owner George Gillett, who was due to attend the first leg of the
Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium last
Wednesday only for heavy snow in north America to prevent his
private plane from leaving the runway, was present on Merseyside to
watch his side qualify for a last-four showdown with Chelsea.
The Colorado-based businessman was accompanied by his
son Foster and watched the absorbing contest from the Anfield
directors' box alongside Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry.
In the hours leading up to the match, Gillett, who is
said to favour selling his share in the club to Dubai Investment
Capital, was reported to have held meetings with senior staff at
Anfield, including one with commercial director Ian Ayre at his Old
Hall Street offices.
Meanwhile, his fellow American owner Tom Hicks, who was
in attendance in north London on both occasions last week as
Liverpool twice drew 1-1 with Arsenal, sadly could not join his
compatriot, instead choosing to fly home to Dallas the previous day
to watch the opening match of his Texas Rangers baseball team's new
season.
Texas Rangers owner Tom
Hicks watches his baseball side take on the Baltimore Orioles in
Arlington while Liverpool's contest with Arsenal at
Anfield.
On his decision to attend the baseball, Hicks
had said: "Opening day in baseball is like a national holiday. I
would never miss our home opener, but I will have the Liverpool
game on my TV. I saw two great games over there last
week."
Sure enough, the Texan was true to his word as, while
taking in the Rangers match against the Baltimore Orioles in
Arlington, he was also somehow managing to keep a close eye on his
'second' team's progress at Anfield - quite a feat in itself.
However, if there had been any technical glitches in
the transmission across the Pond then Hicks need not have worried
as he could always have called up his son, Tom Jnr, who was
representing his father in the directors' box at Anfield.
But while Liverpool were going through, the Rangers
were taking an 8-1 hammering, which may persuade Hicks that's he's
better off on Merseyside.
