Liverpool squad depth a major issue says John W Henry

Pa
Wednesday 06 April 2011 10:18 BST
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The depth of the Liverpool squad was one of his primary concerns when Fenway Sports Group bought the club last year
The depth of the Liverpool squad was one of his primary concerns when Fenway Sports Group bought the club last year

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Owner John Henry admits the depth of the Liverpool squad was one of his primary concerns when Fenway Sports Group bought the club last year.

The American said the financial outlay on the group of players in terms of salaries was huge in comparison to the resources available.

FSG paid £300million to buy the club from Tom Hicks and George Gillett in October but Henry admitted tackling problems with the squad was "a bigger issue than we feared".

"The worst surprise was the lack of depth in the squad," the American told FourFourTwo magazine.

"Our biggest concern in taking on this responsibility was this issue and it was a bigger issue than we feared.

"There was a huge multi-year pay-roll for a squad that had very little depth."

Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli has already indicated he expects to have a busy summer as a huge overhaul of the squad begins.

And that indicates FSG's determination to get the club into a position where they can start challenging for a championship they last won in 1990.

"Our number one priority is to win the Premier League title," added Henry.

"That is what we take with us each day to work as the force that drives us to excel.

"If we can accomplish that we will have put ourselves in a position to be successful on all fronts including Europe.

"Success is winning championships. It is nothing less than that."

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