Liverpool have shot up the Deloitte Football Money League table and are ahead of Manchester United for the first time in the publication’s 26-year history.
The Reds are the biggest movers in this year’s edition, rising four places to third, thanks to a revenue increase of almost 22 per cent, from £487.4m during the 2020-21 season, to £594.3m in 2021-22.
It perhaps come as no surprise in a season which the Reds fought on all fronts, winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and were just two wins away from an unprecedented quadruple.
Liverpool are the biggest movers in this year’s Deloitte Football Money League table
The Reds have jumped ahead of Manchester United for the first time in the publication’s history
As reported by Sky Sports, Deloitte put Liverpool’s rise down to additional broadcast revenue generated by their run to the Champions League final and a significant increase in matchday revenue.
Liverpool are now in the top three, with only Manchester City (£619.1m) and Champions League victors Real Madrid (£604.5m) ahead of them.
Manchester United are in fourth despite an 18% increase from 2020-21 to £583.2m, while Paris Saint-Germain round off the top five with £554m.
It will be tough for Liverpool see such an increase after this season, following their struggles which have left them ninth in the table, with a tricky Champions League last-16 clash against Real Madrid in a rematch of last year’s final.
Both Liverpool and Manchester United have this season been put up for sale.
There have been reports this week that Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group are yet to receive any offers that would persuade them to part ways with the club, despite listing it for sale more than two months ago.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has thrown his hat into the ring to takeover Manchester United, while there have been little updates since Liverpool also put themselves up for sale last year
The Boston-based owners have a preference to sell a small portion of the club but they claim that nothing is imminent in that regard.
Senior FSG officials have also dismissed rumours that they are on the brink of selling Liverpool to a Qatari consortium.
There have been updates with Manchester United however, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe formally threw his hat into the ring.
A spokesman for Ratcliffe, one of Britain’s richest men and a boyhood United fan, confirmed on Tuesday that his company Ineos is interested in buying the club, saying: ‘We have formally put ourselves into the process.’
Ratcliffe is expected to face rival interest from the United States, Asia and the Middle East after the Glazer family revealed their willingness to sell United following 17 years in power at Old Trafford.
Premier League champions Man City remain top of the list ahead of Real Madrid
Man City’s place at the top of the list comes following their meteoric rise from a financial standpoint, that helped transform the club’s fortunes on the pitch, with City going from long-standing strugglers to English football behemoth following the Abu Dhabi takeover back in 2008.
In the 26 years since the Money League was first introduced following the 1996-97 season, City’s revenue has grown from £12.7million to £619.1m.
This year’s Money League highlights the financial might of the Premier League, with more than half of the 20 included making the list.
Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal round off the top ten behind European giants Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Barcelona who were top of the table from 2019-20 season, have again dropped a further three positions to seventh.
The Gunners became the first team to enter the top ten since 2018-19, thanks to a revenue increase of 13% to £367.1m.
Newcastle have jumped into the list’s top 20 along with Premier League rival Leeds
West Ham had the biggest revenue increase out of any team that made the Money League’s list
Tottenham had the second largest revenue increase on the list in ninth, rising 23% to £442.8m after qualifying for the Champions League after two seasons out of Europe’s most prestigious competition.
West Ham are new entrants in 15th and have the largest revenue increase out of any team in the list with 30%, after generating a revenue of £255.1m.
Other English sides to make the top 20 include Leicester, new entrants Leeds, Everton and Newcastle who have also jumped into the list.
Barcelona dropped three places for the second year in a row and are now seventh in the table
Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group said: ‘For the first time, Premier League clubs fill the lion’s share of positions in Deloitte’s Football Money League.
‘The question now is whether other leagues can close the gap, likely by driving the value of future international media rights, or if the Premier League will be virtually untouchable, in revenue terms.
‘The Premier League reported a significant increase in its international media rights value during its most recent rights sale process.
‘Meanwhile, La Liga commenced a new domestic broadcast cycle. The league agreed deals with broadcasters for an extended five-year period, and also sold certain rights packages on a non-exclusive basis, and/or operated them directly.