Man City's mega-rich Abu Dhabi owners tried to buy Liverpool first, reveals Graeme Souness... as he recalls how Amanda Staveley was brokering a deal before they found Hicks and Gillett 'too difficult to deal with'

Graeme Souness has suggested that Manchester City's Abu Dhabi investors were interested in buying Liverpool but walked away because then-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were 'so difficult to deal with.'

The former Liverpool captain and manager turned Sky Sports pundit recalled an encounter with Amanda Staveley, who was involved in Sheikh Mansour's City takeover, in Dubai.

Souness asked Staveley, whom he remembers being a Liverpool supporter, why she hadn't taken the billionaire owners to the Anfield club.

Sheikh Mansour and his Abu Dhabi United group wanted to buy Liverpool, according to Graeme Souness, before walking away from talks to take over Manchester City instead

Souness said Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks (right) and George Gillett were 'so difficult to deal with' that Mansour and his billions went to City instead

Staveley answered that American duo Hicks and Gillett, who owned Liverpool between 2007 and 2010, were so tricky to deal with the investors walked away and bought Man City instead.