Liverpool's unfailing ability to snatch deep despair from the jaws of soaring optimism remains unrivalled.
They followed up a storming 4-3 win at the Emirates with a feeble surrender at Turf Moor against Burnley, losing 2-0 in a game that has led to a wrangle between Brian Kerr and the Estonian F.A. over the character of Ragnar Klavan.
Liverpool looked utterly devoid of ideas in trying to pierce an obdurate Burnley defence, but the good news for fans is that help may be on its way in the form of sweet, sweet cash.
The Sunday Times are today reporting that Liverpool are the subject of an £800 million takeover by a group backed by the Chinese government. It is led by a group entitled China Everbright, but most of the funding will come from China's main sovereign wealth fund, which has the cartoonish title of China Investment Corporation. CIC's assets are valued at around £620 billion.
In an interview with the Liverpool Echo this week, chairman Tom Werner has said that Liverpool is not for sale, although Fenway Sports Group are exploring the possibility of selling a minority stake to allow the injection of further cash.
The Sunday Times one of the avenues being explored is the potential of Liverpool being taken over by this new "investment vehicle", with John Henry retaining a stake in the club. This may still be a controlling stake.
The targeting of major clubs is one step in China's bid to become a global football power by 2050. Last year, President Xi unveiled a 50-point plan to achieve this goal, something which caused alarm among Gaelic football communities in Ireland, owing to the BBC's choice of stock photo:
The targeting of football clubs is an important part of this: Chinese backers have recently acquired stakes in AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Roma, West Brom and Aston Villa.
This is the quandry for Liverpool: china are evidently targeting a Premier League club, and if Liverpool pass on their offer, they could potentially take over a rival club and shove Liverpool further down the pecking order.
[The Sunday Times]
