Soccer-Liverpool will not sell key players, says Hicks

LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Liverpool will not be forced to sell off key players if the club make an early exit from the Champions League, co-owner Tom Hicks said.

"None of our star players will be sold, regardless of results," the American told the Sunday Mirror newspaper. "The club is doing very well due to rapidly growing commercial revenues.

"We have significant investor interest and want to make sure that we pick high-quality partners.

"We are happy with the way things are going financially but we hoped things would be better on the pitch."

The five-times European champions are in danger of being eliminated from the group stage of the Champions League despite having players such as England's Steven Gerrard and Spain's Fernando Torres.

They have also lost five of their first 11 games in the Premier League and are seventh in the standings, nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea before Sunday's games.

Liverpool have been keen to raise fresh cash to help challenge for top honours and fund the construction of a new stadium, as well as finance debt estimated at 245 million pounds ($406.6 million). (Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)