Liverpool were heavily criticised by former players and fans after Premier League leaders decided to place some non-playing staff on temporary leave during coronavirus crisis.
In an official statement, staff will receive 80% of their salary through the government’s job retention scheme and the club will pay the rest.
“Liverpool FC has placed some staff who are impacted by the Premier League suspension on furlough. Those staff will be paid 100 per cent of their salaries to ensure no member of staff is financially disadvantaged. Last month the club also confirmed that it would pay its matchday and non-matchday staff while the Premier League is suspended.
“Even prior to the decision on staff furloughing, there was a collective commitment at senior levels of the club – on and off the pitch – with everyone working towards a solution that secures jobs for employees of the club during this unprecedented crisis.
“There is ongoing active engagement about the topic of salary deductions during the period matches are not being played to schedule. These discussions are complex and as a result the process is ongoing.”
Jurgen Klopp showed compassion for all at the start of this pandemic, senior players heavily involved in @premierleague players taking wage cuts. Then all that respect & goodwill is lost, poor this @LFC https://t.co/9bE8Rw1veE
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) April 4, 2020
The decision has been criticised by former Liverpool players Jamie Carragher and Stan Collymore.
I don't know of any Liverpool fan of any standing that won't be anything other than disgusted at the club for furloghing staff.
It's just plain fucking wrong.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) April 4, 2020
In February, the club announced they had made a pre-tax profit of £42m and increased turnover to £533m.
Last year they also spent £43m on agents’ fees.
A member of staff who works at Liverpool, and did not wish to be named, told BBC Sport: “The club call their staff their family, I’m not feeling like a family member.
“Why is a club that turns over using a government scheme for its staff, when other businesses are more in need of it?
“I feel disappointed and I’m feeling that this government scheme could be used by businesses in trouble.”
The member of stuff added that they were “disappointed, especially after Everton said they were not doing it”.