Liverpool’s commercial income has improved, but the club is in a less good condition than it was when it was bought by Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr in early 2007. Then they were en route to a second Champions League final in three seasons and a new stadium in Stanley Park was a real prospect.
Liverpool’s commercial income has improved, but the club is in a less good condition than it was when it was bought by Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr in early 2007. Then they were en route to a second Champions League final in three seasons and a new stadium in Stanley Park was a real prospect.
This is Liverpool’s third consecutive season without Champions League football and the chances of qualifying this season do not look good. On the commercial front they raised £77.4m in the last financial year, the seventh highest total in the world. The brand has much sought after global recognition.
Even so, their income has flatlined over the last three years while that of rival clubs has grown. Apart from their absence from the Champions League, Anfield generates only £1.5m per game. This is behind Manchester United at £3.7m, Arsenal at £3.3m, Chelsea at £2.5m and Tottneham Hotspur at £1.6m.
Coming from a country where sporting competition is regulated, the club’s American owners have placed considerable faith in Uefa’s financial fair play regulations levelling the playing field. This is also Arsenal’s strategy. But even if financial fair play delivers as promised, and there are real doubts about that, Liverpool will still be playing catch up for a few years at least.
Liverpool fans aren’t having the best of times in recent seasons. They do finally have a long-term plan in place but they probably don’t have the same funds, having blown the Torres windfall on Carroll, and it’s a tough road ahead for them following the Reds. The best way to have additional football fun, according to the online casinos, is to try a football themed slots game. Click here to give it a shot.