Liverpool are seen by many as punching above their weight this season, with those defending Jürgen Klopp’s team pointing out that they weren’t even close to the top four last season.
Klopp led the reds to an eighth-place finish last season after taking over from Brendan Rodgers in October, and currently has his team sitting fourth in the table after Saturday’s victory over Arsenal.
However, if you take into account the recently released wage figures – which contributed to the club recording a pre-tax loss for the year ended May 2016, there is an argument to be made that the club are now where they ought to be.
Milner is one of the players to join on big wages (photo credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
According to figures seen by the Liverpool Echo, the Merseyside club forked out more than £200m in player and staff wages from June 2015-May 2016.
That’s more than Manchester City and Arsenal, both of whom spend just under £200m, though Liverpool’s total – unlike the Gunners’ – obviously includes salaries for two managers and two sets of backroom staff during the period.
Liverpool spent more than £70m over the course of last season – including big-money deals for Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino – while free transfer James Milner also arrived on high wages in the summer of 2015.
The total does not include wages paid to players signed this summer, though Marko Grujić is included after completing his move from Red Star Belgrade in January 2016 and returning to the Serbian club on loan.
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