Liverpool's new home kits come with higher price

Premier League club Liverpool has unveiled its new home jersey for next season -- a "retro kit design" from Nike based on the 1983-84 season when the Reds won a treble of league championship, European Cup and League Cup -- but supporters "will have to pay more" to wear them this year. The price of a standard stadium jersey and those for youths has increased by $6.26 to $100 and $75 respectively, while children's kits have gone from $56.27 up to $65. The club is offering a 10% discount off the price of the home shirt "to all official members and season ticket holders" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 5/2). Liverpool insists Nike is "responsible for the sharp rise in the cost" of the new home shirt, saying the manufacturer "set a non-negotiable manufacturer’s suggested retail price," which increased Liverpool's cost prices by an average of 8.5% across all its clubs. Liverpool officials say the club "absorbed some of the increase" and are selling shirts 5.5% "below the prices set by Nike" (THE ATHLETIC, 5/2).