John Henry Looks For Net Gains

As a successful managed-futures trader, John Henry is well aware that a winning bet can hinge on a single factor. In the case of his latest big investment — U.K. Premier League soccer team Liverpool FC — that vital element could be Fernando Torres, the superstar striker whom Liverpool acquired from Atlético Madrid for some $40 million in 2007.

Lately Torres, 26, hasn’t been scoring goals at anything like a pace that would justify his $175,000-a-week salary. Indeed, Liverpool — off to its worst start in 57 seasons — risks a humbling relegation to the Championship Division.

Henry has been in a serious come-from-behind position before, however — albeit in a very different sport. When he bought the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise in 2002, they too were in dire need of a turnaround; two years later they won the World Series.

Can Henry also revive the team known as the Reds? Although Torres failed to score in Liverpool’s game with Everton on October 20 — as Henry watched pensively from the club’s Anfield stands — the Spanish striker did make the decisive goal the following week, giving Liverpool its first Premiership win since August. Fernando played “an awful lot better,” said Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson. Might it have been the Henry Factor?

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