Souness: Relationship between Liverpool fans and owners is irreparably damaged

Graeme Souness believes there is no coming back for John Henry in the hearts and minds of Liverpool fans across the globe.

The plans for a European Super League which was set to send the world of Football into turmoil was in tatters on Wednesday evening as all six Premier League clubs pulled out almost as quickly as they had signed up to the proposed league.

The backlash to the plan was ferocious and passionate as Football fans across the land who are undoubtedly the heart of the game bonded as one to send a clear message that this was certainly not the best way forward for the game.

While the fans made their thoughts known in the best way possible, a cavalcade of former players turned pundits were also extremely quick to condemn the plan

With the anger being palpable, the big question is when the dust settles what will the landscape look like for these six clubs. Some will undoubtedly look to go on a PR campaign of mammoth proportions and aim to win back the high level of disaffected fans.

But according to the club legend turned pundit, that will be an incredibly tall ask for Henry and his colleagues who he said had a clear method that blew up in their faces.

Souness believes the fact that FSG along with their Man United colleagues were at the heart of this sorry affair, will be an extra kick in the guts for supporters. Liverpool and Manchester United fans rarely agree on anything, but both were on the same page with regards to the conduct of their owners this week.

The two fierce rivals face off against eachother in a couple of weeks and for anyone who likes a flutter, the upcoming Liverpool F.C vs Manchester United best odds are quite interesting as despite United being at home and a considerable amount of points ahead of the reigning Champions, the bookies can't separate them.

The Mirror reported Souness as saying:

“When people go into business at this level they've got an exit strategy.

“You can bet certain Americans were looking at this, [thinking] we'll remain in this new league for two years, our assets will double in value and we'll get out and we'll move onto something else.

“They've been found out. And we know as well as anyone, how will the scousers take to John Henry after this? I don't know how he comes back from this."

One of the worst things about this whole process was how everyone other than the architects of the plan were kept in the dark with Jurgen Klopp confirming on Monday that he only knew about it a few hours before it came to light.

Souness said that lack of accountability and honesty will be extremely difficult to forget.

“This wasn't an idea someone had a fortnight ago, this has obviously been on the go for months and months and months.

"So these chairmen have been going to Premier League meetings, albeit via Zoom no doubt, knowing that their intention was in a few months to pull out of the Champions League.

"So they've been so under-handed - these are relationships that will take some mending.

"And the biggest one is not chairman to chairman, it's chairman to supporters, which is very important.”

Souness continued, “I know the scousers, they will not forgive John Henry for this. I can't see how he gets back from this, I honestly can't.

"I think it's different for [Chelsea owner] Roman Abramovich. I think he's been dragged in, and City have been dragged in. 

“I imagine the catalysts for this would have been the Americans at Liverpool and Man United, along with the two big clubs in Spain who by all accounts are absolutely skint.

"How you recover from this I'm not quite sure, because the relationship between the supporters and the board in some cases will be damaged forever."