Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots NFL franchise and the New England Revolution soccer team, said he is put off by the financial structure of English football.
Security will be heightened at Anfield tomorrow as fans plan a march to protest against George Gillett and Tom Hicks’ ownership of the club. The American pair, who have come under pressure from fans’ groups angry at the debt and direction of Liverpool, are currently trying desperately to find a buyer for the club. Kraft, it seems, is out of contention.
In London for tomorrow’s NFL game between Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kraft said: “We always look at what’s right for us; I love the Premier League but we probably wouldn’t seriously consider coming in unless there was some sort of salary cap.
“We are involved in the NFL and in Major League Soccer and we are happy to compete where it’s a level playing field. We don’t want to be a business where the wallet determines what kind of player you have.”
Gillett attended Tuesday’s Champions League defeat by Lyon, where a large banner on the Kop claimed that fans had been lied to by the owners. It is believed there are plans for thousands of placards to be waved at the Americans at Anfield.
Liverpool are in their worst run of form for 22 years, but manager Rafael Benitez insists he is “relaxed”. He added: “It is about confidence and winning that first game. If we want to change things we must focus on football and not what is going on off the pitch here.”
Kenny Dalglish, the director of Liverpool’s academy, insisted: “Everyone within the upper echelons of this club has no doubt whatsoever about Rafa, I know that for a fact.”
Sir Alex Ferguson would no doubt like to crank up the pressure still more after Benitez’s bizarre attack on him last season, but refused to rise to the bait yesterday. “I’m not interested in Liverpool,” the Scot said. “I’m only concerned about what we do on Sunday.”
Ferguson has faced Liverpool enough times to know that form counts for nothing in this fixture. “We are going in in decent form, there is good confidence in our play, but it is a derby game and anything can happen in derby games. Going to Anfield at any time is a hard game.”
Benitez will give Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson – all groin injury victims – until the last moment to prove their fitness. Wayne Rooney is doubtful for United with a calf injury.
“The team is not as bad as people think,” added Benitez. “We have beaten United without Gerrard and Torres and we know that we can beat anyone. Everyone talks about pressure, pressure, pressure but we have confidence in ourselves.”
They will need it. If they lose, it will be their worst run since the club was relegated from the old First Division in 1953.
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