Liverpool have already punched their ticket to the last 16 of the Champions League. After a rather chastening 4-1 loss against Napoli in Italy on September 7, the Reds have since found the form in Europe that has deserted them domestically, winning the four following games of their Group A schedule.
Doubles over both Ajax and Rangers, including a 7-1 drubbing of the Scottish side at Ibrox last month, mean that safe passage is assured for Jurgen Klopp's men regardless of what happens in this evening's clash with Napoli at Anfield.
But sitting three points back and requiring a victory of four goals or more, based on the head to head between the two sides, means that the odds are against the Reds topping the group and getting what is viewed as a friendlier passage in the knockout stages, as well as a financial boost.
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Financially the Reds have earned £31.3m from their performances in the competition alone this season, not including their slice of the TV market pool and co-efficient payments.
Qualification for the group stage, something the Reds achieved automatically due to their second placed finish in the Premier League last season, delivered £13.5 from the off, with £2.4m arriving with each victory, of which there have been four. Added to that is the £8.2m that was achieved through qualification for the last 16.
A win tonight would be worth another £2.4m to the Reds to take their performance total so far above £33m, and with the need to spend for owners Fenway Sports Group in January and the summer to avoid a potentially damaging period away from Champions League football next season, accruing as much funds as the club can, while they can, will be significant. To put it in context, a Champions League win this evening is worth more than winning the FA Cup final (£2m) and 24 times what victory in the League Cup final is worth (£100,000).
Topping the group brings no extra money but it does help Liverpool gain a greater chance of progression through the more lucrative rounds, with a second-placed finish potentially pitting them against the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain, as well as this year's surprise package of Club Brugge.
Given the way Napoli have been playing this season, and given Liverpool's failings domestically on the pitch, a truly dramatic turnaround in fortunes and performance would be required to leapfrog the Italians into top spot and create a somewhat kinder route.
But with the risk of missing out on next year's Champions League now seeming a real threat through the ground needed to be made up in the Premier League, ensuring that as much is gleaned as possible from this season will be of great importance to the club, especially given that they will need to spend significantly in the coming months to address their issues.
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