Ex-Everton chief defends FSG on recent Liverpool financial decision

Liverpool supporters can not argue about ticket prices increasing against the rate of inflation.

That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after Liverpool confirmed ticket price rises for the next three years.

Supporters are planning protests against the decision, which they say will “grow and escalate” in order to get their voices heard.

Season tickets at Anfield could cost nearly £1,000 for the 2028-29 season, whilst matchday tickets could cost up to £65.

Liverpool have recorded strong finances in recent years under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group, whilst increasing ticket prices would net them £1.2million in extra revenue.

Liverpool fans ‘have to contribute’ to on-pitch success

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Liverpool’s ticketing announcement “makes sense.”

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness though thinks a cap on prices could have been introduced.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It makes sense to me in the way that you’re not giving any big surprises and having to fight for renewals every year.

“At least they’re saying ahead of time, we’ll go with inflation, which is pretty hard to argue against for the fans. It’s when price increases are beyond inflation is when it starts to get some real pushback, and Liverpool have had some pushback with their fans.

“They’ve had some real tussles with the fan base about ticket pricing before. The one good thing I did see in the ticket pricing announcement was that the young kids are going to be kept at £9. They’re going to be fixed for the next three seasons, which I think is great.

“Under a tenner for a game is ok. And if they stick to that, that’ll be good. I just hope they don’t cut back on the number of kids that they can do but they’ve got to increase that market.

“Inflation is acceptable, but going back to global situations, who knows where inflation could be, and so I would hope that if it starts to really spiral that they’re not going to push it to the extreme, and they’re going to try and be sensible about this.

“They could have given a cap on a number as well, which would have made some sense, because everybody knows right now that costs are going up.

“Perhaps a cap would have been sensible, and not be bigger than inflation, and certainly to put a maximum on it as well. It’s always a tricky thing, but we know we’re in a competitive situation and the new manager will want more money to spend.

“It’s always the way. That’s got to come from somewhere. The fans have to contribute, and Fenway Sports are going to as well.”

Liverpool fanbase to force Arne Slot decision

Sources have told Football Insider that Liverpool could be forced to sack Arne Slot amid a toxic atmosphere at the club.

Slot is expected to leave Anfield this summer, with the fanbase having turned on the Dutch manager following a series of poor results this season.

If Slot was to depart, then former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is a leading candidate to become the club’s next permanent manager.

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