Reds get smallest payout for Champions League 2006

Liverpool will be the poor relations of the English clubs in the Champions League next season.

UEFA have decided that if all five English clubs qualify for the group stage then the European champions will only get 10% of the £20m (€29m) television money pot.

Premiership champions Chelsea will get 37.5%, runners-up Arsenal 27.5%, Manchester United and Everton 12.5% each and Liverpool the remaining 10%.

The formula was decided upon after UEFA decided to allow Liverpool into the Champions League qualifying rounds despite finishing in fifth place in the Premiership.

UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said: “It has been decided that Liverpool will be treated as the lowest-ranked English team, but it will have an effect on the other English teams.”

Another £20m pot of TV money will be split between the English clubs based on how many matches they each play in the competition next season.