Liverpool increase ticket prices

Last updated : 17 May 2011 By BBC Sport

No Europa League fixtures would mean fewer games at Anfield, ensuring that home tickets will be even more rare.

The club's average season ticket price rise is 6.5%, Arsenal's prices went up by the same margin a fortnight ago.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said: "This is the fairest level of increase we can offer."

There will be far fewer games to attend at Anfield if Liverpool, currently sixth in the Premier League, cannot overtake Tottenham and qualify for the Europa League. Liverpool travel to Aston Villa for the final match of the season on Sunday.

Kenny Dalglish's side trail Spurs by a point after losing 2-0 against them at home on Sunday. The London side host Birmingham in their last game.

Despite the fears over more expensive and more in-demand adult tickets, there was better news for younger fans. The Merseyside club have cut the cost of under-16 admission to prevent them being priced out of Premier League football.

In addition to the 4% average rise instigated by the club, a further 2.5% comes from the government's increase of VAT in January.

Ayre does not want to price young fans out of Premier League footballThe lowest price for a Kop season ticket is now ?725, with the highest being ?802 for the Centenary and Main Stands.

Matchday tickets have increased by ?1 for the Kop and ?2 for all other stands - making the most expensive ticket ?48 and the cheapest ?39 - but the cost of a child admission has been dropped ?8 to ?15 for all matches.

Ayre added: "We have taken a considered view on these prices, taking into account the state of the economy, our ability to compete in a competitive football market and our aspirations for the 2011-12 season.

"We believe that this rise represents the fairest level of increase we could offer, whilst helping to ensure we maintain our significantly reduced debt position and our aspirations to improve our playing squad.

"We believe this will allow us to be competitive and maintain our ability to challenge our main competitors, many of whom have significantly higher capacities at this time."

Keith Jelley, of the Liverpool Supporters Club, said: It'll be a disappointed reaction from fans but I think it is fair.

"Arsenal have already mentioned that they're doing it. It will be the case across the Premier League. Not many will stay the same.

"We are still relatively cheap. Look at Arsenal and Chelsea. Even tickets at Fulham were ?48 the other night."

Regarding the issue of matchday tickets, Jelley added: "League tickets might be harder to get hold of if there are no European games then fans will snap them up.

"If you've got the money and you want to go then you'll go. It's so difficult to get away tickets anyway.

"Game by game, it's not a massive jump. It is when you are paying full whack."

Speaking about season tickets continued: "Last season they went up. And, at Liverpool, we've got thousands on the waiting list anyway."

He is happy that the club are keeping one tradition intact by making their most iconic stand relatively cheap. "The Kop is the cheapest part of the ground anyway. I've always said that's weird but it's a good tradition," stated Jelley.

Source: BBC Sport