FSG have 'no excuses' for Liverpool ticket price rise as three extraordinary financial stats revealed

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Fenway Sports Group have a cost control problem, not a revenue one, says football finance expert Kieran Maguire, discussing Liverpool’s controversial plan to hike ticket prices at Anfield.Speaking exclusively to Rousing the Kop, the University of Liverpool academic pointed to soaring revenues across the Premier League, as well as even faster rising transfer and wage spending.Liverpool spent £450m on signings last summer, most of whom are yet to hit the heights of which they are capable. Even accounting for the £200m or so of sales that the club made, it was still a huge outlay.The club’s accounts for 2024-25, the last full season for which data is available, showed that Liverpool’s matchday income meanwhile was a club-record £116m, the fourth-highest in the division.

Spirit of Shankly plan further FSG protests; revenue isn’t the problem, says Kieran MaguireFan group Spirit of Shankly, whose representatives occupy 10 of 16 seats on Liverpool’s official Supporters Board, have organised protests that will continue when Arne Slot’s side host Crystal Palace on Saturday, where fans will ‘show FSG the yellow card’ with placards that warn ‘Anfield’s soul’ is at risk.Liverpool’s wage bill was £428m at the last count, while their annual amortisation – which is how clubs account for transfer costs over players’ contract lengths – will be approaching £200m. “The trouble with Liverpool is that their rivals aren’t small clubs, it’s the other big clubs in Europe, who are all increasing their prices.

“So while Liverpool’s cost control is better than most, it’s a league-wide issue of cost control that they get dragged into. That’s the issue, not ticket prices.”Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox