**Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan has defended the club’s recent ticket price rises.**
Protests are set to take place starting at Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Fulham in wake of [the Anfield hierarchy’s move to impose three years of mark-ups](https://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/64495-liverpool-face-fan-backlash-on-ticket-rises/).
Fan group Spion Kop 1906 have [withdrawn their banners for the remaining games of this season](https://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/64685-liverpool-fans-to-remove-kop-flags-again/) while Spirit of Shankly are urging fans to spend money in the stadium.
In an open letter to supporters on Friday, Hogan outlined in detail the reasons for owners Fenway Sports Group’s decision to implement a 3% inflationary raise.
“We know that some supporters will be against an increase regardless of the scale of it, and some may wish to protest against it, while some will be understanding of an inflationary price increase in this economic climate.
Liverpool Football Club fully respects the right of supporters to protest and we acknowledge those supporters who are opposed to this approach.
“But we would also ask one thing in the days and weeks ahead: that any protest, and any debate, is grounded in the facts – what is changing, why it is changing, and what it means in real terms.
“No one at Liverpool Football Club takes decisions on ticket pricing lightly.
“We have a responsibility to run the club sustainably, and to do so with an ambitious vision: to compete for all major trophies, to win trophies, and to keep winning trophies.
“That requires strength on the pitch, and it also requires that we compete in every way possible off the pitch.
“The landscape around us is relentlessly competitive, and many costs that are rising across the club and the industry are outside of our control.”
He added: “We will continue to listen, engage and work with our Supporters Board to ensure supporters’ voices are heard, while making decisions that allow the club to operate sustainably and competitively.
“Every decision the club’s leadership makes is taken in what we believe are the best long-term interests of running a sustainable and successful football club, while competing at the highest levels.”