Your morning digest for Monday, August 30.
Liverpool set for ‘£123m hit’ but Nike hope and ‘£35m boost’ coming
As fans return to stadiums this season, it feels as if brighter times are ahead for football – but the true impact the covid-19 pandemic had on Liverpool is still unknown.
The Reds recorded a pre-tax loss of £46m in their last set of accounts, compared to £43m profit during the 2018/19 season, but the full extent of any losses will be made clear early next year.
Figures assessed by industry experts suggest that Liverpool will miss out on £123m over the course of the 2020/21 season, with the lack of matchday fans and loss of revenue both major factors.
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However, there is hope that the club’s partnership with Nike, which provides a £30m flat fee per year with royalties on top, could provide the key to boosting their finances – as well as deferred payments from broadcasters.
A portion of the TV revenue for the 2019/20 season did not appear on the last set of accounts, with the suspension of the season meaning games were played beyond May 2020. It is estimated that the fee could be around £35m, which would help mitigate any further losses.
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Liverpool new issue exposed by Chelsea as midfield questions emerge
Liverpool fans were left feeling deflated after their 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield, even though they extended their unbeaten start to the season.
Faced with the task of unpicking the European champions, who were limited to 10-men after Rece James’ red card, the depth of Jurgen Klopp’s forward line was questioned, following Roberto Firmino’s injury.
However, the largest question marks were left hanging over Liverpool’s midfield, as Jordan Henderson had to adjust to an unfamiliar position, in order to accommodate the emerging Harvey Elliott.
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The options of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went unused, while Thiago Alcantara was handed limited time to be effective, with Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy not overly-tested.
Klopp will continue to rotate his midfield, with a hectic schedule following the international break, but he needs to continue to look for the right balance if the Reds want to stay competitive on all fronts this season.
Read the full story here.
