Reds to count cost of failure

LIVERPOOL’S failure to qualify for the Champions League next season could cost the club upwards of £25 million (€27.8m), according to a leading football finance analyst.

Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United left the Merseysiders four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and having played a match more.

Manager Rafael Benitez remains confident his side will still qualify for the Champions League but Vinay Bedi, of investment management firm Brewin Dolphin, said it would prove costly if they did not.