Liverpool top Premier League earnings with €120m

Liverpool topped the Premier League earnings table despite finishing second to Manchester City this season, while Cardiff earned more from finishing bottom this season than Manchester United earned as champions the previous campaign.

The league’s new €6.7 billion broadcast deal meant Cardiff received €76 million in finishing 20th this term, compared to United’s €74.4 million for winning the 2012/13 title.

Manchester City, who succeeded United as champions on Sunday with a second title in three years, earned €118 million, with second-placed Liverpool the top earners with €119.3 million as a consequence of more of their games being screened live by broadcasters.

City’s windfall was almost €44 million more than United’s last term.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men did not top the league, though, as they appeared in 25 games broadcast in the United Kingdom by either Sky Sports or BT Sport, compared to Liverpool’s 28.

Third-placed Chelsea, United and Arsenal also appeared in 25 live televised games and Cardiff were one of eight teams to appear in 10 live matches.

The Welshmen, who returned to the Championship after one season in the top-flight, received over €27 million more than QPR did in finishing last in the 2012/13 season.

The season was arguably the most exciting in recent memory, with the lead changing hands 25 times and 1,052 goals scored alongside a record stadium occupancy of 95.9 per cent.

The total dividends paid out to the 20 competing clubs was €1.91 billion, compared to €1.29 billion the previous year.