Ownership and finances

As the owner of Anfield and founder of the club, John Houlding was the club's first chairman. His reign lasted from the founding of the club in 1892 until 1904, when he left allowing John McKenna to become chairman. McKenna later assumed Presidential offices in both the Football League and the Football Association. The role of chairman changed hands many times before John Smith took up the role in 1973; his father was a shareholder of the club. He oversaw the most successful period in the club's history before stepping down in 1990. David Moores assumed the role of chairman after Smith's resignation; his family had owned the club for more than 50 years. His uncle John Moores was also a shareholder at the club and was chairman of Everton from 1961 to 1973. Moores owned 51% of the club, and in 2004 he stated that he was open to takeover bids for the club. Fellow shareholder Steve Morgan, who owned a 5% stake in the club, and the then Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra lodged bids for the club, though neither bid was accepted.

Sale to Gillett and Hicks

Moores eventually sold the club to American businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who acquired the club on 6 February 2007. The deal valued the club and its outstanding debts at £218.9 million. The pair paid £5,000 per share, or £174.1m for the total shareholding in the club, and £44.8m to cover the club's debts. Disagreements between Gillett and Hicks, and their lack of the fans' support, have precipitated rumours that Dubai International Capital (DIC), who were interested in buying the club before Gillett and Hicks took over, would bid for the club. Another group, Share Liverpool FC, also expressed interest in purchasing the club. They proposed to pay £500m, which would be funded by 100,000 fans contributing £5,000 each for a club share. However, the group were unable to raise the required capital to make an offer for the club.
In April 2010 business magazine Forbes ranked Liverpool as the sixth most valuable football team in the world, after clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid and Arsenal; they valued the club at $822m (£532m), excluding debt. Accountants Deloitte ranked Liverpool seventh in the Deloitte Football Money League, which ranks the world's football clubs in terms of revenue. Liverpool earned income of £184.8m in the 2008–09 season.

Sale to New England Sports Ventures

On 16 April 2010 Martin Broughton was appointed Chairman of the Club in order to oversee the sale of the club by the owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. In May, accounts were released showing the club to be £350 million in debt with losses of £55m, causing auditor KPMG to qualify its audit opinion.
The club's creditors, including Royal Bank of Scotland, took Gillet and Hicks to court to allow the resale of the club. A High Court Judge, Justice Floyd, eventually ruled in favour of the creditors and paved the way for a sale of the club to New England Sports Ventures, although Gillet and Hicks still had the option to appeal the verdict. However, Gillet and Hicks got an 11th hour reprieve from a Texas district court just before the interim bank-appointed board were about to consider the $477.2 million sale. The Texas court issued a restraining order after the two owners said the board were responsible for an "epic swindle" by selling the club for less than its supposed value. The club then issued a statement saying: "The independent directors consider the restraining order to be unwarranted and damaging and will move as swiftly as possible to seek to have it removed." The Financial Times said the board may ask a British court to decide whether the Texas court had jurisdiction in the case. Pending the decision, however, Liverpool's debt was due on 15 October 2010, which could have put the club into administration and consequently be docked 9 points by the league. Shortly thereafter, the High Court issued an anti-suit injunction against the Texas court's restraining order, giving Gillet and Hicks until October 15 to revoke the injunction or face contempt of court charges. On 15 October, the Texas court, by request of the two owners, dissolved the restraining order, allowing the sale of the club to be completed. Hicks, however, planned to continue to pursue damages of $1.6 billion against the board of directors.
On 15 October, the club issued a statement confirming New England Sports Ventures had completed the acquisition for £300 million.
Another bid was also received by the club from Singaporean Peter Lim, who increased his initial offer to $507 million. However, Lim withdrew his bid on 14 October 2010.