CEM REPORT, SPORT BUSINESS | Liverpool’s inability to qualify for the UEFA Champions League in 2023–2024 may cost them more than just their appearance.
Newcastle United and Manchester United took the remaining two positions, leaving Liverpool to clinch the Europa League spot.
Since taking over as Liverpool’s manager in 2015/16, Jurgen Klopp has failed to get his team into the Champions League just twice, however this time it was for a whole season.
In recent years, Champions League income has been a big source for Liverpool, and losing out on that would leave a sizable hole in their financial statements.
Liverpool earned €119,957,000 (£106,000,000; $131,000,000), according to UEFA’s annual financial statistics, from reaching the finals last session.
This alone amounts to 17 per cent of their record-breaking total turnover of £594 million.
The tougher challenge will be how Liverpool will attract and pen the calibre of players it desperately needs to rebuild its team.
ames Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita are all expected to depart on free transfers when their contracts expire at the end of the season, and Klopp has acknowledged that his club needs fresh blood.
However, without Champions League competition, the Reds may not be able to recruit players of the calibre they need for the upcoming campaign.
It is also more doubtful that England international, Jude Bellingham who would be a key figure in the squad will pen a Red contract having indicated more interest in a move to Spanish side – Real Madrid. Liverpool has also kept Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Mason Mount on their radar.
Liverpool may not be able to compete against teams like Chelsea, who can spend and are willing to since it changed ownership if it doesn’t make the required signings for the upcoming season.
Although it might be argued that a team doesn’t exist without a brilliant tactician. When Leicester City won the Premier League championship in the 2015–2016 season, they demonstrated this.
It will thus depend on Jurgen Klopp’s technical acumen to lead Liverpool back to the top.
