The 2025/26 Premier League campaign has turned into a very difficult one for Liverpool manager Arne Slot, and the outstanding work that the 47 year old Dutchman did in his maiden season as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement often feels like a lifetime ago.
It was probably almost inevitable with such massive spending over the summer and bringing in so many new players who had to adjust to the club, and the country, but whilst we have certainly had our low points – and plenty of off pitch transfer and fall out distractions – we are far better placed now to head into the coming campaign. Whilst second spot is mathematically possible, it is hugely unlikely right now but a solid top six finish and the securing of European football is more than on the cards and the minimum we should be striving for.
After such a poor season many fans will be skipping the annual betting predictions and looking instead for the best no kyc crypto casino to satiate their gaming urges, but despite some optimism existing for next year, the clubs’ decision to pre announce price rises – and pretty dramatic ones at that – can only be described as foolhardy and yet another complete misreading of the room by those who run roam the power corridors at Anfield.
Saturday’s upcoming clash with Fulham could see the fall out of that misreading as fans’ group Spirit of Shankly are on the march again and have launched a campaign calling on fans to prioritise match day spending with the local shops and community, as opposed to paying for the inflated food and drink offerings inside of the stadium itself. They hope ‘not a pound in the ground’ will make their point admirably when the end of day count is tallied up.
This is the first move in a series of actions against the proposed ticket hikes which will apply for the next three seasons. Dismissing the usefulness of consultation, the group are again pointing to the fact that direct action has yielded positive results previously when the board have insisted on forging ahead with decisions that are not acceptable to the fanbase. With the success of fan protests in the past they are not wrong and Liverpool fans have led the way previously with moves like this to great success for the wider world of football and for those supporters who are far less organised.
It is again a worthy campaign given their favoured proposal could see season ticket holders paying £100 more by 2028, and that does not even include further inflationary effects. Having already suffered five price hikes in six years, we already know the club made a total of £120 million from ticket revenue last year – and whilst it is only fair to say that has been effected by the rise in capacity – it still represents a year on year increase of 27 percent.
On a per matchday front, Anfield already averages a return of £4.5 million from ticket income and that puts us as the eighth highest in the European game, and the proposed rises would add £1.5 to £2 million to that total.
The club have countered with the rises suffered in matchday operating expenses and natural overheads like business rates and growing staff (not player) wages, but that does not wash when you look at player salaries (many performances this season) and then agents fees in particular. Ticket income in a splash in the pan to other revenues and chosen costs – the club need to remember that.
As Spirit of Shankly says it is about what kind of club our board want us to be, one rooted in the community or a revenue stream to be exploited.
