Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool have secured a lucrative financial windfall after successfully qualifying for the Champions League knockout rounds, with their third-place finish in the league phase delivering a nice cash injection.
The Reds concluded their group stage campaign with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Qarabag at Anfield, cementing their place among Europe’s elite eight teams and guaranteeing direct passage to the round of 16 without the need for playoff fixtures. Arne Slot’s side finished the revamped league phase in third position with 18 points from eight matches, trailing only Arsenal, who topped the table with a perfect 24-point record from eight consecutive victories, and Bayern Munich, who claimed second place with 21 points.
The financial rewards for Liverpool’s Champions League exploits are substantial and come from multiple revenue streams within UEFA’s restructured prize money distribution system. Each of the 36 participating clubs receives a guaranteed base payment of £16.18 million simply for qualifying for the league phase, forming the foundation of Liverpool’s earnings.
On top of this starting sum, the Reds benefited significantly from their performance on the pitch, with each victory in the league phase worth £1.82 million. Liverpool secured six wins across their eight matches, defeating Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, Inter Milan, Marseille, and Qarabag twice, generating a combined £10.92 million in performance bonuses.
Beyond the win bonuses, Liverpool’s third-place finish in the final standings triggered additional ranking-based rewards.
UEFA distributes prize money based on final league phase positions, with clubs earning £239,000 for each position in the table. Finishing third secured Liverpool £7.8 million from this merit-based pool.
When combined, these various revenue streams bring Liverpool’s total Champions League earnings to date to £44.46 million.
Besides prize money, the “value pillar” (TV market and UEFA coefficient) is a large pot but is distributed with complex formulas and varies between countries and leagues – so we will likely learn more about that in UEFA’s 2025/26 annual report.
The tournament’s prize structure continues to escalate with each subsequent round, meaning the Reds still have significant sums within reach as they progress through the knockout stages.
Reaching the quarter-finals would add £10.7 million to their coffers, while advancing to the semi-finals carries a reward of £12.9 million. Should Liverpool reach the final, they would collect an additional £15.59 million regardless of the outcome, with the eventual champions receiving a further bonuses.
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