Liverpool owner John W. Henry and incoming vice-chairman Amit Bhatia are confirmed to attend Saturday’s Anfield opener against Nottingham Forest.
Bhatia is part of 1892 Holdings, the consortium poised to purchase a 38 percent stake in Liverpool, with the sale in the process of being formalised.
When the deal goes through, the 46-year-old will take up the position of new vice-chairman, with Elaine Saverin and Bryan Baum also filling boardroom positions representing high-profile investors Eduardo Saverin and Jeff Bezos.
Bezos, the third-richest person in the world, is expected to remain at a distance, but former QPR owner and chairman Bhatia will be more involved.
He will be present for Saturday’s Anfield clash between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, telling LFCTV of his delight at being invited to attend by Fenway Sports Group’s Henry.
“I’ve been very lucky, I have been to Anfield many times,” he explained.
“I have been with the away support when I was part of QPR, which was always a fantastic experience. I’ve been to a bunch of home games at Anfield over the last season.
“I actually also experienced it in a different guise, I was there for the Taylor Swift concert with my daughter.
“This weekend will obviously be a bit different.
“I was very lucky, I got a call about a week or 10 days ago from John Henry, who’s an incredible man, who extended an invite to myself, but not just to me, to my family, to our other partners, to come and attend the match with him on Saturday.
“And so it’ll be different to attend versus the other ones but hugely exciting.”
Amit Bhatia: “I am a fan first”
Queens Park Rangers Chairman Tony Fernandes (left) and vice-chairman Amit Bhatia in the stands
Queens Park Rangers Chairman Tony Fernandes (left) and vice-chairman Amit Bhatia in the stands
Bhatia insists that he will join Liverpool’s leadership as a “fan first,” adding: “All that we can hope for is that we can bring more success to the club.
“But more importantly, that we can make the fans even more proud of the football club that they support.”
The London-born businessman stressed that 1892 Holdings’ purchase was still subject to regulatory approval and This Is Anfield understands he will not be involved in any official capacity this weekend.
However, he went on to explain how he expects the new setup to work, maintaining that FSG will still be in operational control and his involvement “would be in any capacity that [they] felt that we could be useful to them.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk (R) with former captain Alan Hansen as they celebrate with the trophy after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk (R) with former captain Alan Hansen as they celebrate with the trophy after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Hopefully if everything goes well, our association with the club will also be for a very, very long period of time,” he continued.
“And so as and when we can see those opportunities and we feel that they’re in the best interests of the football club, as an entire group we’ll come together and try to support in the best way that we think we can.
“So that’s very exciting to think about, because as I said, the potential is enormous.
“And we’re very excited to see what the future holds for us in that regard.”
Asked about the visible excitement he shows when talking about Liverpool, Bhatia replied: “How can you not be excited?
“Liverpool is the greatest football club in the world”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's co-owner and NESV Chairman Tom Werner, Director Michael Gordon, owner John W. Henry and his wife Linda Pizzuti with the trophy, as the team celebrate becoming Champions for the 20th time, after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's co-owner and NESV Chairman Tom Werner, Director Michael Gordon, owner John W. Henry and his wife Linda Pizzuti with the trophy, as the team celebrate becoming Champions for the 20th time, after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“It’s the biggest and the greatest football club in the world. And so to in any way be associated with it, it is the stuff of dreams, right?
“But it also comes, we know, in time with great responsibilities. And so that responsibility has been shouldered by FSG, we believe, in the most spectacular way over the last 16 years.
“And so if we as their partners can be involved, help, elevate the club, help the club in any way – and I hope that they see some value in us, which is why they’ve welcomed us to the table – we are ready, willing, champing at the bit and can’t wait to help in any way that we are called upon to help the club.
“So, incredibly excited, incredibly honoured and very much looking forward to it.”
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