Liverpool face £200m financial setback with knock-on effect for summer transfers | Football | Sport
Liverpool are running the risk of missing out on Champions League qualification (Image: Getty)
Liverpool could miss out on as much as £200million if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League. The reigning Premier League champions have made a mess of their title defence and currently sit sixth in the table, a whopping 15 points behind leaders Arsenal. They are also five points adrift of the division’s top four as things stand.
It means the Reds could miss out on Champions League football in 2026/27 unless they improve their form over the coming months. It would be a massive blow for the Anfield giants, who have graced Europe’s premier club competition for the last 10 seasons. Failing to qualify would also bring major financial consequences, specifically a significant loss of income.
Liverpool breezed through the first phase of this season’s Champions League, winning six of their eight matches to book their place in the round of 16.
They can secure qualification for next season’s tournament by lifting the trophy but if they fail, their hopes will rest solely on their Premier League position.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told the Daily Mail about the income Liverpool could miss out on if they fail to finish in a Champions League spot.
“‘If we take a look at Liverpool to date this season, they have made around £90m so far through the group stage, and remember they lost two games, so that shows how lucrative the Champions League is,” said Maguire.
“Effectively, for every £1 you make in the Champions League, you probably make 22p in the Europa League and 11p in the Conference League. So, it really is a case of Champions League or bust as far as the finances are concerned.
“Liverpool could potentially make another £45m roughly if they progress and win the Champions League. That also means they would qualify for the Club World Cup in 2029.
“We saw how beneficial that was for Chelsea and Manchester City, nearly £80m each from that. It is not essential but it is highly desirable to get that qualification.
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The Reds will miss out on millions of pounds if they are unable to qualify (Image: Getty)
“On top of that, the figures I have just quoted are the prize money from UEFA. If you have got four group games at Anfield plus another potential three or four in the knockouts, they can get £8m from a home match.
“You do the maths and you’re probably talking around £190-£200m in total when you factor in bonuses from the likes of [commercial partners] adidas and Standard Chartered, so it is the £200m jackpot if you win the competition.”
It means that plenty will rest on Liverpool securing Champions League qualification ahead of next season to ensure they aren’t hurt in the pocket.
Arne Slot recently challenged his players to enjoy the pressure of a top-four battle, insisting that every game from now until the end of the campaign is a must-win.
Speaking after the recent victory over Sunderland, he told TNT Sports: “If you play for Liverpool or if you manage Liverpool, every game is must win,. That doesn’t change at all.
“Last season, when we were on top of the league, it felt every time that we needed to win. Now we are in this position, we feel the same.
“But that’s the pressure that you should embrace and accept if you play for Liverpool. Otherwise, you’re in the wrong place.”
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