The true financial benefit of Champions League football and winning the Premier League has been highlighted in Liverpool’s latest accounts.
In financial reports published this morning, the English champions posted an overall profit of £8million and a record revenue of £703m as media and commercial windfalls both saw big increases.
All figures highlight how doing well on the pitch has a direct impact on finances as winning the league title and getting to the last 16 of the Champions League – 12 months on from only being in the Europa League – both had a significant influence on the numbers.
The club saw media revenue increase by £60m year on year to £264m, the largest uplift due to the team doing well in UEFA’s premium competition.
If it were needed, the figures serve as a reminder as to how important finishing in the top five this season will be. The Reds are currently sixth.
Matchday revenue rose by £14m to £116m in the first full season with the new Anfield Road Stand in operation, while commercial revenue went up by £15m to £323m in a year full of new partnerships signed with the likes of Japan Airlines and Lucozade.
Liverpool’s financial results highlight the cost of failing to qualify for the Champions League
Non-football events at Anfield such as P!NK and Taylor Swift performing at the stadium also were big earners. Another concert, Billy Joel, was postponed and subsequently cancelled due to the Piano Man’s health concerns.
There were some unwanted increases in the accounts, notably administrative costs going up by £57m to £657m, mainly due to higher staffing costs.
Jenny Beacham, the club’s chief financial officer, said: ‘We make no secret of our desire to run and operate a financially sustainable club, to grow revenue streams, and to do all we can off the pitch to help bring more success on it.
‘The 2024-25 season is a great example of how this can work, with record revenues alongside the men’s team winning our 20th league title. The challenge for us is to continue with our growth, through the incredible work that we do in areas such as our partnership portfolio and retail offerings, as well as continuing to diversify our focus to best serve our global fanbase.’
