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Liverpool's US owner John W. Henry leaves his seat after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 27, 2022. - Liverpool won the game 9-0. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Liverpool's John Henry Rules out Full Sale of Club by Fenway Sports Group

Joseph ZuckerFeb 20, 2023

Liverpool co-owner John Henry ruled out a full sale of Liverpool by Fenway Sports Group amid speculation the club could change hands.

The Athletic's David Ornstein reported in November that FSG had put Liverpool up for sale and solicited the services of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to aid with the process.

Speaking with BostonSportsJournal.com's Sean McAdam, Henry said ownership "merely formalized an ongoing process."

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"Will we be in England forever? No. Are we selling LFC? No. Are talking with investors about LFC? Yes," he said. "Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won't be a sale. Have we sold anything in the past 20-plus years?"

Liverpool has enjoyed a lot of success since FSG purchased the club in 2010. The Reds were crowned champions of England's top division for the first time in 30 years in 2020, and they've claimed one Champions League title along with two runner-up finishes.

The financial health of Liverpool is also far more robust compared to the final stages of the George Gillett and Tom Hicks regime, when going into administration was a possibility. LFC was third in the 2023 Deloitte Money League, with revenues of £594.3 million over the last year.

But plenty of supporters would welcome a new owner.

Liverpool's transfer spending—or lack thereof—has been a running theme for FSG's critics over the years. Henry was forced to apologize for involving the club in the ill-fated and widely unpopular Super League. As is the case with a number of clubs across England, Liverpool supporters are also getting priced out of matchday tickets

There's no guarantee things would change for the better with new owners, though.

Chelsea has spent extravagantly under Todd Boehly; whether that money has been spent wisely is another matter. Under FSG, Liverpool has unquestionably benefited from having a firm structure and vision in place.

In addition, selling Liverpool could mean a nation state with a poor record on human rights such as Qatar or Saudi Arabia becomes involved. That would effectively force fans to choose between maintaining their support or tacitly endorsing a sportswashing venture.

Based on Henry's comments, FSG won't be going anywhere for the time being.