Tom Hicks under pressure after George Gillett invites DIC

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Gillett will not be able to attend the match because of illness, but his party - including son Foster, a fellow director - will be there in force to welcome DIC's representatives.

It is a remarkable move by Gillett, who has wanted to sell his 50 per cent stake in the club to DIC for several months.

It comes only five days after his estranged business partner, Tom Hicks, staged an extravagant PR exercise in a television interview defiantly outlining his own plans for the future of the club.

But, significantly, after Hicks made it clear he still intended to buy out his partner, Colorado-based Gillett announced that he had no intention of selling to his fellow American.

It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley will be among Gillett's party, along with Liverpool fan and DIC chief executive Samir Al-Ansari. Hicks could also be there, although his spokesmen in the UK have been unable to confirm the Dallas billionaire's movements.

DIC have been trying to buy the club for 18 months, having been beaten at the post by Hicks and Gillett just over a year ago.

They seemed to have tied up a deal at the turn of the year when Hicks sent a representative to Dubai for talks, only for him to pull the plug on the possible sale.

Now Gillett, at least, seems to be making a bold statement of intent. It is clear he wants to sell and that DIC want to buy.

Any problem over Hicks's alleged veto of a Gillett sale is likely to be challenged in court before the summer.

Manager Rafael Benitez made it clear that he and his team - plus the fans - will be concentrating on reaching the Moscow final next month and will remain unaffected by what happens in the directors' box tomorrow.

But Gillett is seemingly now playing his hand and making it clear that DIC are his guests and eventual purchasers of his stake.

If Hicks does not attend the game, he will be left in no doubt that Gillett believes he has the whip-hand, and that a deal will have to be brokered sooner rather than later.