With six wins and two defeats getting Liverpool through to the last 16 of the Champions League, the club have already secured themselves a hefty prize sum.
Liverpool’s Champions League earnings: A quick look
• Massive earnings: Liverpool have secured approximately £46 million in prize money after reaching the Champions League last 16.
• Performance bonuses: The total includes £10.92m for six league phase wins plus £9.8m for finishing third
Football is about the highs and lows of the game; the elation of winning comes above all else.
However, in the modern game, financial gains are as important to the suits running clubs as on-field success, hence the importance of Champions League qualification.
The total prize pot for clubs qualifying for the Champions League is more than 4.3 times bigger than for the Europa League.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the third goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
How much have Liverpool earned from reaching the last 16 of the Champions League?
This season, Liverpool have already secured just over £46 million in prize money from competing in the competition, thanks to a combination of bonuses and ‘value pillar’ payouts.
• The Reds receive £16.15m for participating in the league phase
• Liverpool’s six wins and two losses saw them accumulate an extra £10.92m in performance pay, with £1.82m per league phase win and £604,000 per draw
• A further £8.1m comes their way for finishing third, as every position in the table is worth an extra £237,000
• In addition, Liverpool receive a bonus of £1.72m for finishing in the top eight
• The club then gets a further £9.5m payment for reaching the last 16
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai walks out before the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. Liverpool won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It then becomes slightly more difficult to produce an exact figure on how much Liverpool will learn from the ‘pillar value’ system.
Liverpool should be among the highest earners from the ‘European pillar value’ as the UK has one of the biggest broadcasting deals.
Similar should be true from the ‘non-European pillar value’, if they maintain their ranking as the UEFA coefficient’s fourth-best club over the last 10 years.
• Liverpool should earn at least £25.8m from the European pillar value pot
• Due to the Reds’ high coefficient ranking, they should earn at least £9.8m from the non-European pillar value
Our estimations are similar to those of football finance blogger Swiss Ramble, who estimates Liverpool to earn a total of £37.2m from the value pillar section.
This all adds up to roughly £82m, though this is a slightly conservative estimate and would increase should Liverpool progress deep into the competition.
How does Champions League money compare to other competitions?
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 10, 2024: The FA Premier League and the European Cup (UEFA Champions League) trophies on display before the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. General (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
To put the Champions League‘s financial importance into perspective, it is a large part of the club’s revenue for the year. Last season, the Reds generated £702m in revenue – more than any English club.
Liverpool’s 2024/25 title-winning Premier League campaign earned them £174.9m, so success in Europe can really separate them from the rest.
It is, therefore, vital Liverpool qualify for next year’s Champions League as the sums spent on transfers and wages will have factored in qualification for Europe’s top competition.
Arne Slot‘s side are currently in a three-way battle to finish fourth. Thankfully, though, fifth place may be enough to qualify due to English clubs as a whole still boasting a strong UEFA coefficient.