Liverpool back in profit, but wage bill was highest in Premier League

"A £60m ($80.9m) increase in media revenue provided the largest uplift to finances, with the team reaching the last 16 of the Champions League compared to the Europa League quarter-finals the previous year being significant. However, performance bonuses for their title success, plus the contract renewals of high-profile stars Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, an increase in staffing numbers and general matchday administrative costs meant expenditure on staff rose by £42m ($57m) to £428m ($577m)."

"Those costs have more than doubled since 2016-17 and now put them ahead of Manchester City, whose employee costs for the same season were £408m ($450m). As these figures relate to the 2024-25 campaign, with the accounting ending period ending on May 31, they do not take into account Liverpool's £450m ($607m) summer spending spree on the likes of British record transfer Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike to overhaul the squad."

"But after two years of pre-tax losses -- £9m ($12m) in 2022-23 and £57m ($77m) in 2023-24 -- the Reds are back in the black as, in addition to improved media income, matchday revenue increased by £14m ($19m) to £116m ($156m) with commercial revenue up £15m ($20m) to £323m ($435m). However, in the last four years utility costs have increased by 107% and business rates by 286%."

Liverpool achieved a pre-tax surplus of £15.2 million following their Premier League championship season. Media revenue increased by £60 million, significantly boosted by Champions League progression compared to previous Europa League participation. However, staff expenditure rose by £42 million to £428 million, the highest in the Premier League, exceeding Manchester City's £408 million. This increase resulted from performance bonuses for title success, contract renewals for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, expanded staffing, and administrative costs. The club recovered from two consecutive years of pre-tax losses through improved matchday revenue (£14 million increase to £116 million) and commercial revenue (£15 million increase to £323 million). Operating costs have escalated significantly, with utility costs rising 107% and business rates increasing 286% over four years.

Read at ESPN.com