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Full cost of Liverpool’s failure to qualify for Champions League as Man Utd book their spot
The full cost of the failure of Liverpool to qualify for next season’s Champions League has been revealed after Manchester United secured their spot in the top four.
United ensured Champions League football for next season with a game to spare, defeating Chelsea 4-1 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Their form has picked up in recent months, leading to a run of seven wins in eight matches, but it has come too late for the Reds to force their way into the top four.
But as well as simply missing out on Champions League football next season, the club will suffer financially as well.
Liverpool count cost of Champions League failure
As per figures from UEFA’s official website (based on the 2022/23 season), Liverpool stand to lose a significant sum next season in UEFA payments.
They will receive far lower starting fees that UEFA pays out to any club that reaches the group stage of the Champions League. In 2022/23, that stood at a guaranteed fee of €15.64 million.
There are also a number of fixed fees that are paid out. Teams earn €2.8 million for a win in the group stage, and €930,000 per draw. This campaign, Liverpool earned €14.93 million through that metric.
They earned an extra €9.6 million for reaching the last 16, with that figure scaled up as a team progresses further in the competition. Unfortunately for the Reds, they lost to Real Madrid at the last 16 stage.
The Reds also receive funds based on their 10-year UEFA coefficient ranking, which was set at €27.3 million.
The Daily Mirror claim that the Reds collected a sum of €67.7 million for their Champions League run this season.
🗣️ “He’s right”
Jurgen Klopp reacts to Mo Salah’s social media post after Liverpool’s Champions League hopes ended 😬 pic.twitter.com/wyYU0JkuVw
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 26, 2023
Being in the Europa League carries far lower financial rewards. The starting fees paid to group stage clubs stands at €3.63 million, down €12 million from the Champions League fee.
Fixed fees are also lowered, with group stage wins paying out €630,000 and draws €210,000. Group winners receive €1.1 million, with runners-up receiving €550,000.
Reaching the play-off round, meanwhile, would have netted Liverpool an extra €500,000, with a last 16 berth netting €1.2 million.
The total prize pool for coefficient rankings is also far lower, standing at €69.75 million rather than the €600.6 million available for the Champions League. There are also TV and commercial considerations that will cost the club even more in payments.
The Reds will also suffer financially from the Premier League, too. In 2021/22, as reported by the Daily Mirror, the Reds earned £159.8 million. Had they finished fifth, as they will this season, they would have received £151.6 million – a drop of £8.2 million.
