If they fail to do this, Liverpool could face a loss of up to £200 million.

Liverpool risks missing out on a huge potential income ahead of the 2026/27 season, which would greatly affect their ability to invest in transfers.

Liverpool is at risk of losing as much as £200 million if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League. The current Premier League champions are enduring a disastrous title defense and are currently in 6th place, trailing league leaders Arsenal by 15 points. They are also 3 points behind the top four.

If this position remains unchanged, Liverpool will not qualify for the Champions League in the 2026/27 season. This would be a huge shock for the Anfield club, who have participated in Europe’s top club competition for 10 consecutive seasons. Missing out on qualification would also bring severe financial consequences, specifically a significant loss in revenue.

This season, Liverpool has powered through the early stages of the Champions League, winning 6 out of 8 matches to secure a place in the round of 16. They could guarantee their spot for next season by winning the tournament, but if they fail, their hopes will depend solely on their Premier League standing.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told the Daily Mail about the revenue Liverpool might lose if they don’t qualify for the Champions League: “Looking at Liverpool’s performance so far this season, they have earned around £90 million just from the group stage, and remember they lost two matches, which shows how lucrative the Champions League really is.”

“Liverpool could earn an additional £45 million if they progress further and win the Champions League. That would also secure them a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. We’ve seen the benefits this brings to clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City—nearly £80 million each. It’s not mandatory, but clearly worth striving for,”the football finance expert added.

“Moreover, the figures I mentioned are only UEFA prize money. If you have four home games at Anfield during the group stage plus three or four more in the knockout rounds, they can earn around £8 million per home match. Do the math yourself, the total could reach about £190–200 million when including bonuses from commercial partners,” he continued.

Last summer, Liverpool invested nearly £450 million in the transfer market to build a foundation based on Arne Slot’s philosophy. Despite this huge expenditure, Liverpool is having a disastrous season. According to club legend Jamie Carragher, The Kop have not yet completed their squad and he encourages the club to keep spending in upcoming transfer windows.

Liverpool will not be able to spend freely like they did in summer 2025 if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. Moreover, their appeal to top stars will diminish significantly without participation in Europe’s most prestigious competition.

Therefore, Liverpool’s poor season could turn into a disaster if they do not improve their current 6th place standing.