Liverpool made a £19.8M loss in the financial year ending May 31 "despite overall revenue increasing" to a record £301M, the club’s latest accounts reveal, according to Andy Hunter of the London GUARDIAN. Despite "failing to qualify for the Champions League," both media and matchday revenue increased at Anfield, "largely as a result of Jürgen Klopp’s team reaching both the Europa League and League Cup finals." Media revenue rose by £1M to £123.6M and matchday income increased by £3.4M to £62.4M. Commercial revenue was down by £700,000 to £115.7M. The decrease was attributed to "the construction of the new main stand at Anfield restricting access to the stadium" on non-matchdays, although 10 commercial partnerships were signed during the period. Overall revenue rose by £3.9M to a record £301.8M, but new signings such as £29M Roberto Firmino and £12.5M Nathaniel Clyne contributed to a loss before tax of £19.8M (GUARDIAN, 3/1). In London, Chris Bascombe reported over the course of the financial year, Liverpool paid off former Manager Brendan Rodgers and his backroom team and recruited Klopp and his staff. The club "also bought high-profile players" such as James Milner, Clyne and Firmino. During the period, Liverpool sold Raheem Sterling to Man City for £49M. The ongoing costs of rebuilding the Main Stand "also contributed -- the yields from the new development will not be known until next year’s figures are released" (TELEGRAPH, 3/1). The BBC reported COO Andy Hughes said that the club, which has been owned by U.S. firm Fenway Sports Group since Oct. '10, continued to make "solid financial progress." Liverpool said that it expected "significantly improved" results for the current financial year (BBC, 3/1).
CL ABSENCE COSTLY: In London, Simon Hughes reported Liverpool said in a statement that it is the only club in the top 10 of the Deloitte Football Money League not competing in the Champions League and "therefore interpreted its financial performance" as a demonstration of "the strength of its commercial operations to support reinvestment into the playing squad" (INDEPENDENT, 3/1).
