Not every player’s precise wages are publicised openly, so it’s never an exact science when you see lists – but we reckon this one, courtesy of Football Manager 2016, is pretty accurate.
Their figures are sometimes off for smaller clubs, but usually spot on for larger ones like Liverpool – as they’re based on direct club information and respected sources such as the BBC, Guardian, Sky Sports, etc.
Interestingly, automatic starters Martin Skrtel, Nathaniel Clyne, Lucas, Alberto Moreno and Simon Mignolet don’t feature in this list – but two players currently out on loan do…
10) Lazar Markovic – £75k-per-week
Big transfer fees usually come with big wages as well, and considering Markovic cost us £20m, it’s no surprise to see him earning hefty wages. Let’s hope he shows he deserves them next season following the end of his loan spell in Turkey.
9) Adam Lallana – £80k-per-week
A £25m 2014 summer signing, Lallana has been better since Jurgen Klopp’s arrival, but the playmaker simply needs to add more goals and assists to his game. He’s excellent when we’re already winning games, but struggles to break teams down.
8) Mamadou Sakho – £85k-per-week
Sakho recently renewed his Anfield contract, which thankfully sees him tied to the club for the next five seasons. The Frenchman has been exceptional when fit, but it’s now up to the centre-back to return from injury and find the same form he was producing before he twisted his knee.
7) Christian Benteke – £100k-per-week
Liverpool made Benteke our second most expensive signing in our history during the summer, costing £32.5m, but he’s only the seventh highest paid player at Anfield. Five goals have showed promise, but with Sturridge perpetually injured, he needs to start displaying it consistently.
6) Roberto Firmino – £100k-per-week
It seems as if the Brazilian is on the same as Benteke. The two attackers arrived in the summer but have so far only showed their ability in glimpses. Most worryingly though has been Benteke and Firmino’s relationship with each other so far – which has been mostly non-existent.
5) Jordan Henderson – £105k-per-week
The skipper earns a cool £105k-per-week says the FM stats, which we’d probably describe as par. He’ll be at the club for the foreseeable future though and likely has one more large contract in him.
4) Coutinho – £110k-per-week
Our best player is the 4th highest paid player at the club, and we’ll likely have to amend this should Real Madrid or Barcelona threaten to come calling. He renewed his deal last season, but his performances signal that he’ll soon be in the bracket of truly elite footballers.
3) Mario Balotelli – £125k-per-week
Liverpool are still paying a large portion of the Italian’s wages, which we actually think FM16 have slightly exaggerated. Most reports we’ve come across suggest he’s on around £100k-per-week, which still proved an extraordinary waste of money of course.
2) Daniel Sturridge – £130k-per-week
Sturridge is worth this monster wage when he’s on the pitch, but frankly, this seems an absurd sum to pay somebody who never turns up to work… If Liverpool do cut their losses with the brilliant but crocked forward, what kind of fee and wages would another side risk?
1) James Milner – £140k-per-week
Milner’s on £140k-per-week and is Liverpool’s highest paid player. Gulp. The Englishman’s wage offsets the fact we didn’t pay a transfer fee for his services, but he does cost us £7.2m per year for the privilege. We need to see some more quality from the hardworking vice-captain.
