Reds fans have accused American owners of not singing from the same hymn sheet . . . and it seemed Tom Hicks might not have known the words.
The American made a show of belting out You’ll Never Walk Alone before the game.
Although it was difficult to pick out his Texan twang among the din, observers said he was falling behind with the words.
His sons waved scarves above their heads as the party tried to get into the swing.
It was all part of the biggest sideshow in football.
The warring factions in the battle for control of Anfield took their seats in the directors’ box last night.
It was no surprise they did not sit together.
The Hicks party took the front seats, with members from the Dubai International Capital team in the rows behind.
Rick Parry and David Moores sat together at the back of the box.
But for more than 90 minutes the different groups seemed united. It was smiles all round as Liverpool seemed to be heading towards victory before the last-minute heartbreak.
Merseyside police had advised Hicks to stay away, but that if he was determined to come, to turn up early.
He duly obliged by arriving at the ground well before kick-off. He took his seat moments before the first whistle, arriving to some muted boos and jeers.
His sons were also animated during the game, waving scarves and gesturing during exciting moments.
Then disaster struck in the cruellest way possible with John Arne Riise’s own goal.
The American faces in Liverpool's director's box looked aghast at Chelsea's last-gasp equaliser.
Hicks, seen earlier hugging his sons after Dirk Kuyt's opener, stared blankly straight ahead as he contemplated a game they should have won.
Chief executive Parry sat a few rows behind, days after the Texan publicly called on him to step down from his position.
Also present were DIC’s chief negotiator Amanda Staveley and chief executive Sameer Al-Ansari, who attended as guests of George Gillett, who missed the match through illness.
It was the first time Al Ansari and Hicks Snr had met since talks with the investment company broke down last month.
With other famous faces including Fabio Capello, Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve Mclaren, Football Association chief executive and Liverpool fan Brian Barwick, and Steven Gerrard's wife Alex Curran, the action in the director's box was almost as intriguing as what was happening on the pitch.
On the Kop, there were little protests to be heard against the club's American owners and the usual “Yanks Out, DIC SOS” banners were missing for the big match.
Liverpool fan Neil Roberts, 30, from Aigburth, said: “Watching what was happening in the directors’ box was almost as interesting as the match itself.
“Obviously Hicks wanted to be seen singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, after he drank from his LFC mug the other day, but he made a bit of a mess of it.
“There was plenty of smiles as the main protagonists sat just yards from each other, but we all know it was just for the cameras.”
The American made a show of belting out You’ll Never Walk Alone before the game.
Although it was difficult to pick out his Texan twang among the din, observers said he was falling behind with the words.
His sons waved scarves above their heads as the party tried to get into the swing.
It was all part of the biggest sideshow in football.
The warring factions in the battle for control of Anfield took their seats in the directors’ box last night.
It was no surprise they did not sit together.
The Hicks party took the front seats, with members from the Dubai International Capital team in the rows behind.
Rick Parry and David Moores sat together at the back of the box.
But for more than 90 minutes the different groups seemed united. It was smiles all round as Liverpool seemed to be heading towards victory before the last-minute heartbreak.
Merseyside police had advised Hicks to stay away, but that if he was determined to come, to turn up early.
He duly obliged by arriving at the ground well before kick-off. He took his seat moments before the first whistle, arriving to some muted boos and jeers.
His sons were also animated during the game, waving scarves and gesturing during exciting moments.
Then disaster struck in the cruellest way possible with John Arne Riise’s own goal.
The American faces in Liverpool's director's box looked aghast at Chelsea's last-gasp equaliser.
Hicks, seen earlier hugging his sons after Dirk Kuyt's opener, stared blankly straight ahead as he contemplated a game they should have won.
Chief executive Parry sat a few rows behind, days after the Texan publicly called on him to step down from his position.
Also present were DIC’s chief negotiator Amanda Staveley and chief executive Sameer Al-Ansari, who attended as guests of George Gillett, who missed the match through illness.
It was the first time Al Ansari and Hicks Snr had met since talks with the investment company broke down last month.
With other famous faces including Fabio Capello, Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve Mclaren, Football Association chief executive and Liverpool fan Brian Barwick, and Steven Gerrard's wife Alex Curran, the action in the director's box was almost as intriguing as what was happening on the pitch.
On the Kop, there were little protests to be heard against the club's American owners and the usual “Yanks Out, DIC SOS” banners were missing for the big match.
Liverpool fan Neil Roberts, 30, from Aigburth, said: “Watching what was happening in the directors’ box was almost as interesting as the match itself.
“Obviously Hicks wanted to be seen singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, after he drank from his LFC mug the other day, but he made a bit of a mess of it.
“There was plenty of smiles as the main protagonists sat just yards from each other, but we all know it was just for the cameras.”
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