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Gillett and Hicks will be co-chairmen of Liverpool

American tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks have reached an agreement to take over Liverpool.

Hicks and Gillett will be co-chairmen but will leave existing chief executive Rick Parry to run the club.

Liverpool chairman David Moores, who will become an honorary life president, said: "This is a great step forward for its shareholders and its fans."

The pair, who each own NHL ice hockey teams, beat off competition from Dubai International Capital.

Interview: Tom Hicks and George Gillett

Interview: Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson

Their offer is worth £5,000 per share, valuing the club at £174.1m, and along with the club's £44.8m debt it values the club at £218.9m.

But the pair are also believed to have guaranteed to invest over £200m in the club, but they refused to discuss figures.

They confirmed they will make funds available, both for team strengthening and the building of the club's new stadium in Stanley Park and denied they had secured the club on borrowed money.

606: DEBATE I'm happy with the takeover, although a bit wary, as I guess all fans probably are at first FG 606: Have your say

"We have purchased the club with no debt on the club," said Gillett. "We believe in the future of the club, the future of the league, the new TV contracts are outstanding and we are proud to be a part of it.

"This is truly the largest sport in the world, the most important sport in the world, and this is the most important club in the most important sport in the world.

"What a privilege we have to be associated with it and we hope that with the good graces of Rick and his team that we will have on-the-pitch success and economic success."

They said the club would consider selling the naming rights to the new stadium.

Gillett added: "If the naming rights are worth one great player a year in transfer spending, we will certainly look at that as a serious option."

But both Gillett and Hicks vowed to safeguard the legacy of the club and leave Parry and manager Rafa Benitez to do their jobs.

Existing chief executive Rick Parry will be left to run the club

A club statement earlier confirmed that a deal had finally been done after a three-year search for new owners.

It said: "Liverpool FC today announced that the board have agreed the terms of an offer for the club from Mr George Gillett and Mr Tom Hicks.

"The board are unanimously recommending that the club's shareholders accept this offer."

Moores was not present at the official announcement, with Parry saying it was probably "the worst day of his life" and the "biggest decision".

But in a statement he said: "This club is my passion and forms a huge part of my life. After much careful consideration, I have agreed to sell my shares to assist in securing the investment needed for the new stadium and for the playing squad.

"I urge all my fellow shareholders to do the same and to support the offer. By doing so, I believe you will be backing the successful future of Liverpool.

"I am also delighted to accept the offer from the Hicks and Gillett families to continue my involvement in the club by becoming honorary life president."

Parry added: "This is great for Liverpool, our supporters and the shareholders - it is the beginning of a new era for the club.

Hicks, who owns the Dallas Stars ice hockey club as well as the Texas Rangers baseball team, joined forces with Gillett to gazump rival bidders DIC last week. "They are bringing to the table tremendous and relevant experience, a passion for sport, real resources and a strong commitment to the traditions of Liverpool.

"We know that George and Tom want a long-term relationship with Liverpool and that they also understand the importance of investing in our success both on and off the field.

"They have made clear their intention to move as quickly as practicable on the financing and construction of our proposed new stadium at Stanley Park and also to support investment in the playing squad."

Both Parry and Gillett said the addition of Hicks last month had been crucial in sealing the deal.

The Hicks family and the Gillett family are extremely excited about continuing the club's legacy and tradition Joint statement from Hicks and Gillett

But Gillett dismissed reports that said he had planned to groundshare with neighbours Everton, saying that Parry had warned him off such a suggestion at their first meeting.

Gillett, owner of Montreal Canadiens, has impressed Liverpool with his proposals and the speed at which he completed due diligence - the process of investigation by potential investors - in three days.

The 68-year-old American has also stressed his experience in running successful sporting operations.

It is thought to be the first time that two owners of rival sports clubs in one league have combined to purchase a club in another.

Liverpool will become the third Premiership side to come under the control of American owners, following the takeovers of Manchester United and Aston Villa in recent years.

A joint statement from Gillett and Hicks said: "Liverpool is a fantastic club with a remarkable history and a passionate fanbase.

"We fully acknowledge and appreciate the unique heritage and rich history of Liverpool and intend to respect this heritage in the future.

"The Hicks family and the Gillett family are extremely excited about continuing the club's legacy and tradition.

The Dubai International Capital group will be allowed to begin the due diligence process this week, according to reports in Monday's newspapers.

American billionaire George Gillett and property tycoon John Miskelly are also thought to be interested in a takeover.

The proposed deal will include £200m to build a new 60,000-capacity stadium.

The due diligence process gives DIC - a subsidiary of the government-owned Dubai Holdings - exclusive rights to study the accounts of Liverpool with a view to finalising a deal.

The details of the deal are not known, and it is unclear whether it would be a full-scale takeover by DIC, or whether they would take over from chairman David Moores as majority shareholders.

But the news will concern those worried about the number of Premiership clubs currently in the hands of foreign owners.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Aston Villa have all gone through high-profile takeovers by foreign owners in recent years.

DIC is run by chief executive Sameer Al Ansari and owns the Madame Tussauds Group and the Travelodge hotel chain as well as one third of the London Eye.

The company is an investment arm of Dubai Holding, which is owned by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The Al Maktoum family are internationally renowned for their running of the Godophin horse racing stables.

Liverpool have been linked with other takeover bids in recent years.

In 2005, American billionaire Robert Kraft - owner of the New England Patriots NFL team - was linked with a bid for the club.

By Caroline Cheese

Scholes scored his 132nd goal for Manchester United

The midfielder forced the ball home after Jose Reina had got a hand to his initial shot after 39 minutes.

That came after Dirk Kuyt had wasted the Reds' best effort with a free header from Mark Gonzalez's cross.

Rio Ferdinand smashed in a second to make it 2-0 after 66 minutes as United returned to the top of the Premiership.

News conference: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

It leaves Liverpool trailing their bitter rivals by 11 points, but on the evidence of this display, the Reds cannot claim the gap is deceptive.

United were never at their best, but it was still enough to cope with an uninspiring Liverpool.

With just Kuyt up front, Liverpool set out to stifle United in midfield, making for a scrappy opening to the game.

The hosts had the better of the first half, with Louis Saha looking particularly dangerous up front, but Liverpool did have their chances.

After just seven minutes, Kuyt stole into the box unmarked but Steven Gerrard's cross was too high.

Kuyt was again involved on the half hour mark when Gonzalez rocketed past Ferdinand on the left and crossed for the Dutch striker, who headed too close to Edwin van der Sar.

While Gonzalez's speed was impressive, his shooting was far less so, the winger twice fluffing long-range efforts, and a minute after his second effort, United went ahead.

Scholes found Wayne Rooney before stealing into the box to get on the end of Ryan Giggs' cross.

Reina half-stopped his initial shot but the midfielder followed up to make sure of his 132nd goal for the club.

The Liverpool keeper dived at full stretch to prevent Saha making it 2-0 before the interval and it was a buoyant United who headed in at the break.

Rafael Benitez watched only five minutes of the second half before making his first substitution, bringing on Jermaine Pennant for Gonzalez.

That allowed Gerrard to move into the centre, but the changes failed to inspire Liverpool and United scored a deserved second after 66 minutes.

Jamie Carragher, injured in a tackle minutes earlier, mishit his clearance and the ball came to Ferdinand, who sidestepped John Arne Riise and confidently swept the ball into the top corner.

Feature: John Motson tribute to Bill Shankly

By Simon Austin

The legend on Bill Shankly's statue at Anfield reads "He made the people happy."

This simple epitaph explains why so many people will be commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Scotsman's death this weekend.

BILL SHANKLY OBE (1913-1981) Born: Glenbuck, East Ayrshire Liverpool manager: December 1959 to July 1974 Honours: First Division champions 1964, 1966, 1973; FA Cup winners 1965, 1974; Uefa Cup winners 1973

It is not difficult to understand why the former Liverpool manager is held in such high regard by the club's fans.

When he took over at Anfield in December 1959, Liverpool were languishing in the Second Division.

Shankly turned them into the pre-eminent force in English football. Under the Scot Liverpool won the Second Division in 1962 before going on to claim the Championship in 1964, 1966 and 1973, and the FA Cup in 1965 and 1974.

His successor, Bob Paisley, built on these foundations to win an unprecedented six league titles and three European Cups in nine seasons.

Shankly's triumphs were built on hard work, an eye for a player and, above all, his remarkable strength of personality and man-management skills.

Ron Yeats, who captained Liverpool from 1961 to 1971, says he became aware of Shankly's brilliant psychological skills after just one day at the club.

SHANKLY IN HIS OWN WORDS In my time at Anfield we always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside - Liverpool and Liverpool reserves If you are first you are first, if you are second you are nothing At a football club, there's a holy trinity - the players, the manager and the supporters I would like to be remembered as a man who built up a family of people who could hold their heads up high and say 'We are Liverpool'

"I took a bath after my first training session at Melwood, and when I came out, there must have been 20 reporters there," he told BBC Sport.

"Shanks was stood in front of them and pointed at me, saying, 'Look at the size of him, he's a colossus'. I had nothing on and thought 'what's he talking about?'

"But that was Shanks. He used to tell everyone I was seven foot tall. I'd say 'but boss, I'm only 6ft 3', and he'd reply 'that's near enough 7ft for me'.

"He'd make you feel like a colossus and a great player and you'd go out on the pitch and perform like one."

Shankly, one of 10 children of an Ayrshire coalminer, was a fitness fanatic who believed in the virtues of determination and hard work.

Yeats said: "We were a very fit side and used to score a lot of goals in the final five minutes of matches. Everybody in the team knew their jobs."

Yet Shankly's appeal extends beyond fans of Liverpool to supporters of other clubs and even non-football supporters.

John Keith, who has written the Bill Shankly Tribute Story, which will be performed at Bootle Town Hall on Saturday evening, says: "I still think Bob Paisley was the greatest manager English football has seen, but Shanks transcended football.

"He was an outrageously extrovert character who touched people in the street."

Shankly realised that fans were intrinsic to the success of any club and spoke of a "holy trinity" of manager, players and supporters.

Keith, who first met Shankly when he was a national newspaper reporter in the 1960s, says: "Shanks recognised the fans as the most important element in football.

Ron Yeats and Ian St John show off the 1965 FA Cup from their train

"A fan came over and said he didn't have a ticket, so Shanks went and bought him one."

It seems a million miles away from the modern Premiership, whose millionaire managers and players seem so detached from supporters.

Yeats says Shankly allowed fans into Melwood to watch training and, once there, they would share a story and joke with the manager.

Shankly was also well aware of the power football had to galvanise an entire city. After his retirement he said: "I was only in the game for the love of football - and I wanted to bring back happiness to the people of Liverpool."

The club's success during the 1960s, 70s and 80s undoubtedly gave Liverpool a sense of pride and identity.

When news of Shankly's resignation first emerged in 1974, distraught fans jammed the club's switchboard and local factory workers threatened to go on strike unless their hero returned.

Shankly's wit and humour also captivated football fans throughout the country, and there are several websites devoted to his quotations.

At the funeral of Everton legend Dixie Dean, he said: "I know this is a sad occasion, but I think Dixie would be amazed to know that even in death he could draw a bigger crowd than Everton can on a Saturday afternoon".

Tommy Smith, Bill Shankly and Emlyn Hughes with the 1975 Charity Shield

Shankly resigned as Liverpool manager in July 1974 to spend more time with his wife and daughter, and Yeats says he was never the same man again.

He said: "I couldn't believe it when I heard the news. I don't think Bill gave the job up, I think the directors gave him up.

"He used to go down to Melwood to watch the lads train after that and you could tell he desperately wanted to get involved. Football had been his life and suddenly it had been taken away."

Shankly died from a heart attack just seven years after leaving his beloved Liverpool, at the age of 68.

By John Sinnott

Reina has had an uncertain start to the season

Sam Allardyce's side went ahead with a disputed goal after Jose Reina was wrongfully penalised for handball.

Playing his 750th league game, Gary Speed inflicted maximum punishment on Liverpool as he arrowed in a free-kick.

Bolton extended their lead with a goal there was no debate about as Ivan Campo thumped in a headed home from Kevin Davies' cross early in the second half.

Liverpool struggled on their league travels in Benitez's first season in charge and having picked up just one point away from home during this campaign they are again faltering outside of Anfield.

Bolton might have been fortunate with that first goal, but once they were ahead the way they defended suggested they were never going to relinquish their lead.

Both goalscorers typified that grit as they both made important defensive interventions as Liverpool threatened.

In the first half, Speed got back to tackle Jermaine Pennant, while after Campo had scored his goal, the former Real Madrid player was soon stretching to stop Jamie Carragher's pass reaching Luis Garcia.

Prior to Saturday, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had been concerned about Bolton's physical approach and it was not long before he was expressing his frustration as his team were unsettled by the home side's tactics.

Abdoulaye Faye was booked for a crude tackle on Steven Gerrard, while Dirk Kuyt was left with a bloody head after he was involved in a clash of heads with the Bolton defender.

Liverpool's pain was further increased when they fell behind in controversial circumstances.

Reina was penalised for handling outside of his area, though television replays showed the Spaniard released the ball when he was clearly inside in his box.

Reina was made to pay for linesman Andy Halliday's mistake as Speed's low left-footed shot flew into the corner of the net.

The former Villarrel goalkeeper has had an uncertain start to this season and in trying to save Speed's free-kick he made the strange decision to dive in the space his wall was protecting as the ball went the other way.

Speed's strike was Bolton's only direct shot at goal in the first half.

Nicolas Anelka should have got a shot on target earlier but he delayed too long allowing Sami Hyppia to recover after he slipped allowing the Frenchman a chance to run at goal.

Either side of Speed's goal, Liverpool chances to score.

Alonso's sweetly-struck volley hit the base of the post, while Jussi Jaaskelainen reacted quickly to beat away Gerrard's powerful shot.

If Bolton had been unable to conjure up an attack in the opening 45 minutes they proved quicker off the mark after the break.

By Phil McNulty

Dirk Kuyt celebrates his strike for Liverpool against Spurs

But Spurs were left to regret an astonishing miss from Jermaine Jenas seconds before Mark Gonzalez gave Liverpool a 63rd-minute lead.

Jenas somehow missed from a matter of inches from Edgar Davids' cross, and Spurs were punished when Gonzalez scored after Craig Bellamy hit a post.

Dirk Kuyt slammed home the second after 73 minutes and John Arne Riise hit a spectacular third in the dying seconds.

Interview: Livepool striker Dirk Kuyt

Interview: Tottenham head coach Martin Jol

Liverpool chose to rest Jamie Carragher and recall Sami Hyypia, while Spurs boss Martin Jol gave a rare outing to the strike partnership of Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe, with Dimitar Berbatov out injured.

Xabi Alonso, whose 60-yard strike stunned Newcastle in midweek, tried his luck from closer range after 12 minutes, firing a low shot just wide through a packed penalty area.

606 VIEW Another one for Kuyt, two goals in two. This could be a positive turning point WL 606: Have your say

But it was Spurs who should have gone ahead 13 minutes later when Ledley King somehow failed to get a touch to Danny Murphy's free-kick only six yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Liverpool came even closer when Gonzalez's corner deflected off Pascal Chimbonda onto an upright with Paul Robinson beaten.

The home side had penalty appeals turned down on the stroke of half-time when King appeared to handle and then haul down Bellamy as he raced into the area.

But referee Howard Webb got the decision correct as King had timed his tackle to perfection.

Liverpool carried all the momentum after the break, forcing Jol into a change after 61 minutes, sending on Davids for Teemu Tainio.

And the move should have paid swift dividends as the Dutch veteran raced down the left flank and set up Jenas inside the six-yard box, but he somehow slid the ball wide when it was easier to score.

Liverpool made Spurs pay heavily for Jenas' shocking miss, taking the lead within seconds.

Steven Gerrard's cross found Bellamy right in front of goal, and even though he managed to conjure up a miss every bit as bad as Jenas by hitting a post, the rebound fell kindly for Gonzalez to beat Robinson from an angle.

And Spurs' afternoon got even worse as Liverpool doubled their advantage with 17 minutes left.

Substitute Luis Garcia, on for Bellamy, threaded a pass through to Kuyt who provided a powerful finish as Spurs waited for an offside flag that was never going to come thanks to dreadful positioning by Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Liverpool were in the ascendancy, and just to confirm this was not going to be Spurs' afternoon, Riise fired a trademark thunderbolt past Robinson in the dying seconds.

Anfield
Saturday, 23 September
Kick-off: 1245 BST

live on sky sports
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD

Liverpool hope winger Jermaine Pennant will be fit after he pulled out of the midweek match with a muscle twinge.

The game is likely to come too soon for Norwegian John Arne Riise, a fortnight after his ankle injury flared up.

Dimitar Berbatov's groin injury means Tottenham are without the striker for the fourth successive match.

Steed Malbranque and Aaron Lennon are sidelined with groin and knee problems respectively, but midfielder Hossam Ghaly is fit after a groin injury.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Aurelio, Pennant, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard, Kuyt, Bellamy, Dudek, Warnock, Hyypia, Zenden, Gonzalez, Crouch, Fowler.

Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Stalteri, Chimbonda, Lee, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, King, Huddlestone, Gardner, Zokora, Murphy, Jenas, Davids, Tainio, Ghaly, Ziegler, Defoe, Keane, Mido.

By Ian Hughes

Xabi Alonso is congratulated after his spectacular strike

Kuyt ended Liverpool's five-hour goal drought when he slid in to convert Steve Finnan's cross after Alonso's exquisite pass had created the chance.

And after the break, Alonso produced another moment of brilliance when he shot from inside his own half to leave the slipping Steve Harper groping air.

Luis Garcia had earlier hit the post as Liverpool dominated poor opposition.

However, had Newcastle carried any threat at all, Liverpool may have been punished for their profligate finishing.

Craig Bellamy should have scored when through in on goal but dinked his effort wide, while Garcia shot straight at Harper early on.

As for Newcastle, they had two penalty appeals waved away as they vainly tried to make an impact.

Both involved Shola Ameobi - and neither looked that convincing as first the striker tangled with Danny Agger and then claimed handball off Jamie Carragher.

And aside from a couple of long-range efforts, that was about all a blunt Newcastle attack could muster.

Yet Liverpool almost failed to take advantage and at times looked every inch a side with a confidence crisis in front of goal.

They had come into the game desperate for a goal after more than 300 minutes without one.

Kuyt, despite looking lively throughout and notching his first goal since joining Liverpool from Feyenoord, was also guilty of sloppy finishing.

He guided a shot wide after Garcia had pulled back well from the by-line and also directed a header off target when he should have been celebrating a hat-trick.

The chances kept coming for Liverpool - particularly after the interval - but Fabio Aurelio's free-kick was well saved and Steven Gerrard fared similarly with his set-piece effort.

And it took a moment of exceptional skill for Liverpool to add to Kuyt's opening strike.

Looking up, and still well in his own half, Alonso spotted Harper off his line and launched an arrow of a shot over the keeper and into the corner of the net.

The Spaniard scored against Luton in the FA Cup last season - his last goal - from a similar distance, but it pales hugely in comparison.

It will not be a memory, though, that Harper will cherish when the replays are shown over and over again.

To some extent, Alonso's goal put gloss on a Liverpool performance that lacked cutting edge.

But it was a victory that was deserved, while Newcastle will need to improve - and quickly.

By Mandeep Sanghera

Drogba celebrates his winner at Stamford Bridge

Drogba swivelled and powered in a shot from 18 yards to put the Blues ahead before the homes side's Michael Ballack was sentoff for an apparent stamp.

Steven Gerrard spurned the best chance for the visitors when he shot straight at keeper Petr Cech from eight yards.

Liverpool were denied a penalty when Gerrard seemed to be pushed before Peter Crouch missed with a late header.

News conference: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had waited in the tunnel for Reds counterpart Rafael Benitez prior to kick-off as the antagonism between the pair appeared to have been eased with a shake of the hands.

When the action got underway, Chelsea slowly started to exert some authority against a Liverpool side sitting back and trying to sting the Blues on the counter-attack.

Chelsea struggled to break down the discipline and organisation of the Reds while the visitors were let down by some stray passing.

But Reds striker Dirk Kuyt almost unlocked a cagey first half when a defence-splitting diagonal Xabi Alonso ball left him with a clear sight of goal.

Kuyt made powerful contact with a rising angled drive but agonisingly saw it come back off the crossbar.

Frank Lampard saw a 25-yard free-kick easily gathered by keeper Jose Reina while, at the other end, Craig Bellamy had a shot in rare chances as the typically tight battles between the two teams continued.

It needed a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock and Drogba produced it when he chested down Lampard's ball with his back to goal.

In one move the Ivory Coast striker swivelled and unleashed a left-foot half volley with such speed and power that it left defender Jamie Carragher stunned and Reina rooted to his spot.

Mohamed Sissoko was fortunate not to be sent-off for a second bookable offence after a foul on Lampard before Gerrard came close to equalising just before the break.

Gerrard cut in from his left midfield position and decided to shoot from a tight angle - instead of crossing for better-placed team-mates - only to see his shot sail shot sail high.

Chelsea suffered a setback when Ballack was red-carded for a rash 51st minute challenge on Sissoko when it appeared he stamped on his rival midfielder's leg.

The visitors slowly started to capitalise on their advantage in numbers and created a glorious chance for Gerrard, who saw a fierce shot from eight yards blocked by Cech.

Arjen Robben had a penalty claim waved away at the other end when he was the filling in between a Carragher and Daniel Agger sandwich as the game opened up.

Liverpool's turn to be incensed came when they did not get a spot-kick for what appeared to be a Lampard push on Gerrard.

Stamford Bridge
Sunday, 17 September
Kick-off: 1330 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD

Match report to follow later.

News conference: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

CHELSEA against Liverpool is one of the first landmark matches of this Premiership season. The Blues, victorious in Europe this week, are out to avenge defeat in the Community Shield, to give notice of their determination to notch an historic third successive League title. Victory would give them an eight point advantage over the pre-season favourites for pretenders to their crown.

The Londoners are vying for a 10th successive Premiership maximum at the Bridge.

These clubs are meeting for the second time this term, having played each other five times in each of the last two seasons. The champions, who've achieved successive League 'doubles' over the Reds, are chasing a 50th victory in League and Cup against the Merseysiders.

LIVERPOOL were held to an uninspiring goalless draw, away to PSV, in the Champions League on Tuesday. They go to west London eager to erase the pain of last Saturday's 3-0 derby day defeat at Everton.

Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho go head-to-head for the 12th time. The Chelsea manager leads by five wins to three with three draws. But in the Premiership it's four-nil to the Portuguese.

The Reds ended last season with a 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup, and repeated that result in this season's Community Shield. The Champions League duels between the