Liverpool post healthy profit despite transfer spending

Premier League leaders Liverpool made a pre-tax profit of ?42 million ($54 million) last year despite a record ?223 million investment on players, figures showed on Thursday.

While that top line is well below the record ?125 million profit for the year ending May 2018, the rewards are being felt on the pitch, with the club just four victories away from winning their first league title in 30 years.

Figures released for the financial year to May 31, 2019 incorporate the big-ticket purchases of Alisson Becker, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri.

They also include the increased costs of new contracts for 11 players, including those for captain Jordan Henderson, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who have all played a key role in helping Jurgen Klopp's champions-elect establish a 22-point lead at the top of the table.

Some of that cost was offset by sales including Danny Ings, Dominic Solanke and Danny Ward.

Income was also boosted by the club's success in winning a sixth Champions League .