Liverpool spending backed by title win and long-term plan, says CEO

Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez (R) and Mohamed Salah (C) take part in a training session at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on July Thursday, ahead of a friendly exhibition football match against AC Milan which will be played on Saturday. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 25 July 2025
Follow

Liverpool spending backed by title win and long-term plan, says CEO

  • Svensson’s uphill eagle attempt from just more than 48 feet hit the flagstick and dropped for an eagle, finishing an 11-under round with matching 30s on both nines
  • He broke the previous course record of 62 originally set by Scott Piercy in 2019, and matched by Sam Stevens’ round that was completed just a few groups ahead of Svensson on Thursday

BENGALURU: Liverpool’s big-money investment on transfers is the result of long-term planning, club CEO Billy Hogan said, adding that winning a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title convinced the club it was time to act like a modern powerhouse.

Liverpool’s latest acquisition, French striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth £79 million ($106.84 million), including add-ons, has taken the club’s transfer expenditure this window to nearly £300 million.

Outgoings, six players including Trent Alexander-Arnold, have so far generated around £64 million.

The outlay marks a sharp departure from Liverpool’s traditionally measured approach in the market. However, Hogan insists the club has not deviated from the club’s policy of financial sustainability.

“It doesn’t just happen; it’s been years in the making,” Hogan told The Athletic in an interview.

“One of the things we’re constantly focused on is that ‘virtuous circle’. Trying to run the club in the right way to ensure that we can generate as much revenue as we possibly can. That obviously helps in terms of being able to put more back into the team.

“The difficulty is if you just look at one individual summer. That probably skews the data. There were a lot of comments made last summer that we didn’t spend enough...”

Hogan explained the approach reflects the ambitions of American-led Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who are seeking to build on last season’s Premier League title under manager Arne Slot.

“We also recognize, having won the English league title for the 20th time, that this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. We want to make sure that we are behaving like one,” he added.

“Having massive global stars come and play at Anfield, filling out stadiums in Hong Kong and Japan, those are things we expect and want to do.”

Liverpool face AC Milan in Kowloon, Hong Kong on Saturday, before taking on Yokohama FM in the J League World Challenge in Yokohama on Wednesday. They begin their Premier League title defense at home against Bournemouth on Aug. 15.


Man United held to 1-1 draw at home by struggling West Ham

Updated 05 December 2025
Follow

Man United held to 1-1 draw at home by struggling West Ham

  • Man United are eighth in the standings on 22 points, while West Ham remain 18th on 12 points, two adrift of Leeds United in 17th spot

MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United missed the chance to go fifth in the Premier League when they were held 1-1 by West Ham United at Old Trafford on Thursday, a result which keeps the visitors in the relegation zone.

After a scrappy goalless opening half, the hosts took the lead in the 58th minute through Diogo Dalot but West Ham’s Soungoutou Magassa equalized seven minutes from time which led to boos from the home fans at the final whistle.

“Angry and frustrated, that’s it,” Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said.

“We are really inconsistent but if you look at the goal (we conceded), we have a long ball, we have everything under control, we need to do better.

“We knew set pieces would be a problem with the difference in height in the team but we could do it. We could maintain the ball after the first goal and again we lost two points.”

Man United are eighth in the standings on 22 points, while West Ham remain 18th on 12 points, two adrift of Leeds United in 17th spot.

West Ham had the best of the opening half-hour, played at a pedestrian pace, but never really threatened before the hosts began to take control.

We are really inconsistent but if you look at the goal (we conceded), we have a long ball, we have everything under control, we need to do better

Ruben Amorim

Bryan Mbeumo played a one-two from a short corner before trying a looping shot from outside the area which sent West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola scrambling to tip it over the bar.

Amad Diallo put a ball across the box which Joshua Zirkzee sent goalwards with his thigh and Aaron Wan-Bissaka headed off the line, and seconds later Bruno Fernandes’s effort skimmed the outside of the post.

Wan-Bissaka was a rock at the heart of West Ham’s defense against his former club, putting in crucial challenges and keeping his side level going in at the break.

Magassa shot into the side netting early in the second half before Man United found the opening goal. An attempted shot from Casemiro took a deflection and the ball fell kindly for Dalot almost on the penalty spot and he sent his shot on the turn past Areola.

“We are disappointed. At 1-0 with 30 minutes to go we have to control the game more, especially at Old Trafford,” Dalot told Sky Sports.

“We cannot get as anxious as we got after the goal. Maybe we got sloppy with the ball possession. We had the game there. We think it is down to us rather than credit to West Ham.

“It is a good feeling. Every time you get the opportunity to score a goal for a club like this is amazing, especially at the Stretford End.

“But I would change it for the three points.”

The game looked to be petering out to a narrow win for the home side, with West Ham never really looking like finding an equalizer until Jarrod Bowen’s flicked header from a corner was cleared off the line by Noussair Mazraoui and Magassa smashed home.

“It felt amazing. We played a good game, and everyone fought,” Magassa told Sky Sports.

“I am so happy to score my first goal in the Premier League.”

Both teams sprung to life in the final minutes in search of a winner and Fernandes was guilty of a couple of late misses.