Spirit of Shankly's 'not a pound in the ground' campaign targets FSG's ticket price rises as Steven Gerrard warns Saturday's result could determine manager's future
Liverpool face a battle on two fronts this Saturday. While Arne Slot fights to save his job against Fulham, thousands of fans will stage a protest that could create the toxic atmosphere his team desperately needs to avoid.
The defending champions sit fifth in the Premier League, five points off the top four. Steven Gerrard believes defeat could spell the end for Slot. Yet the Dutchman won't have his usual backing as Spirit of Shankly launches their 'not a pound in the ground' campaign against FSG's ticket price increases.
The timing couldn't be worse. Liverpool announced £703 million in record revenues last month, then told fans they'd be paying 3% more for tickets next season.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, the Liverpool legend didn't mince words about the stakes:
I think the Fulham game is just as important [as the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain]. I think if the ownership and the people above, they see that gap, the Villa, and United stretches or gets any worse, I worry for the manager's position.
Gerrard praised Slot's title-winning first season but admitted the current situation has him concerned. Liverpool haven't beaten Fulham in their last three Premier League meetings. Another slip would leave them six points behind Manchester United and potentially end their Champions League hopes.
Spirit of Shankly spokesperson Jay McKenna confirmed fans will boycott all spending inside Anfield. The group wants supporters to invest in independent businesses around the stadium instead.
We're really worried about the long-term impact of this. There could be a 13% increase in ticket prices for supporters. Tickets reaching the £70 mark, season tickets cost in excess of £1,000, all the while Liverpool Football Club are making more money than ever before.
FSG's price rises will generate approximately £1.2 million annually. That figure looks insignificant against Liverpool's financial backdrop.
McKenna pointed out the cruel irony. The amount FSG stands to gain is "insignificant to LFC, but fairly significant to fans".
This isn't FSG's first clash with supporters over pricing. In 2016, they tried to raise match tickets to £77 before mass protests forced a U-turn. That led to a price freeze in eight of the last ten years.
But McKenna rejects giving FSG credit for that restraint:
I'm not entirely sure we can give LFC credit for freezing prices in eight of the last ten years, when, firstly, it was because they tried to put them up to £77, and we all protested and said no, and they admitted they got it wrong. And then a global pandemic hit.
The protest creates a perfect storm for Slot. At the precise moment he needs Anfield's famous atmosphere, thousands plan to stay away or sit in silence.
Slot won the Premier League in his debut season but now faces a completely different challenge. His team has won just once in their last five league games. The Champions League offers a potential escape route, but Gerrard insists the domestic situation takes priority.
But if this was to get any worse, I'd be worried for the manager, I must say.
FSG's timing appears particularly tone-deaf. They've chosen to squeeze fans for extra revenue while the team struggles and the manager's position becomes increasingly precarious. The situation echoes the kind of managerial pressure that has become commonplace in modern football.
Spirit of Shankly aren't just saying no. They've proposed alternatives:
McKenna's message to FSG was blunt: "Don't take it from our pocket."
Saturday's match becomes a referendum on multiple fronts. If Liverpool lose and the protest gains traction, FSG faces a crisis of their own making. They risk alienating the fanbase while potentially losing a manager who delivered the title just 12 months ago.
The club has yet to respond to calls for renewed negotiations. But with fan sentiment "pretty strong" according to McKenna, FSG may discover that £1.2 million in extra revenue costs far more than it's worth. The real price could be measured in empty seats, toxic atmospheres, and ultimately, the manager they backed to defend their title. With key players potentially departing, the timing of this fan revolt couldn't be worse for the Merseyside club.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting advice.
Liverpool fans are protesting FSG's decision to increase ticket prices by 3% despite the club posting record revenues of £703 million. The 'not a pound in the ground' campaign targets what fans see as unnecessary price rises.
Yes, Steven Gerrard believes Arne Slot's position could be in danger if Liverpool lose to Fulham. The team sits fifth in the Premier League, five points off the top four, and hasn't beaten Fulham in their last three meetings.
Liverpool ticket prices will rise by 3% next season, with adult season tickets increasing by £53-£67 over three years. Prices could potentially increase by up to 5% annually if inflation rises.
The 'not a pound in the ground' campaign is a fan protest organized by Spirit of Shankly where supporters boycott all spending inside Anfield. Instead, fans are encouraged to spend money at independent businesses around the stadium.
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