The Economic Consequences of Liverpool’s Champions League Exclusion

Liverpool fans worldwide were crestfallen last season when their beloved team dropped out of the Champions League and instead had to settle for a spot in the Europa League. The financial consequences of missing out on Europe’s premier competition are far-reaching, with serious questions about how long Liverpool can keep up with their more financially successful rivals while playing second fiddle in UEFA competitions. 

Keeping up appearances at the top level isn’t cheap, so in this blog post, we look at what it has cost Liverpool since they missed out and what that means now and next season. Let’s find out.

Financial Gain from Liverpool’s 5th Place Finish in the Premier League

With their second-place finish in the English Premier League last season, the Reds earned an estimated £50.4m. This figure drops significantly when looking at this season’s fifth-place finish, with Liverpool likely to receive somewhere in the neighborhood of £35.2m for a fifth-place finish in 2023. That difference of nearly £15m could have gone into the club coffers had they stayed in Europe’s top competition – and would make up a significant chunk of any potential transfer budget next summer.

Liverpool’s Earnings in the 2022/23 Champions League

Liverpool earned £58.9m from their European campaign despite losing to Real Madrid 2-6 on aggregate. Liverpool’s ten-year coefficient payout for their previous success on the continent accounted for over a third of that total (£23.7m). That money could have gone directly into Jürgen Klopp’s transfer budget had they managed to reach this season’s Champions League final – just as it did in 2018/19 when they were crowned champions of Europe.

Potential Player Exodus from Liverpool Following Champions League Qualification Failure

The club may need help keeping some of its stars like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. It is yet to be seen if those clubs will make concrete moves for either player. Still, Liverpool’s failure to qualify for this season’s Champions League could be decisive in any potential departure.

Jürgen Klopp has made it plain how he would respond if one of his players requests to go because of Liverpool’s European standing. His comment that “I would drive him to the other club” was meant in jest. Still, it does raise an interesting question about how long Liverpool can remain competitive without qualifying for the Champions League. There could be severe repercussions if some key players decide they need a change to further their careers.

With the rise of online sport odds, you can be sure that Liverpool’s fate in Europe will be followed closely by bookmakers and fans over the coming months.

Conclusion

Liverpool’s exclusion from the Champions League this season has had a significant financial and competitive impact on the club’s fortunes. Missing out on Europe’s premier competition means Liverpool will receive significantly less broadcast revenue. This loss in income could ultimately affect their ability to compete with other top sides, both domestically and abroad. 

It may also lead to high-profile departures as players seek clubs competing at the highest level. While it is too early to tell the long-term consequences of failing to qualify for this season’s tournament, one thing is clear: Liverpool’s future success relies heavily on their ability to win back a place in the Champions League – preferably sooner rather than later.