Liverpool extend Standard Chartered deal

Liverpool have extended their sponsorship deal with the Standard Chartered banking company by three years until 2019, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

The bank, headquartered in London, became Liverpool's principal sponsor in July 2010 and its logo has appeared on the 18-time English champions' shirts for the past five years.

Having initially been extended in 2013, the partnership will now run until the end of May 2019, but financial terms have been kept confidential.

"This extension further demonstrates the great strength of our long-term relationship and the success of our partnership with Standard Chartered," Liverpool's chief commercial officer Billy Hogan said in a press release.

"The sponsorship of the Liverpool shirt is extremely prestigious and only five brands will have adorned the shirt in the 40 years since we created the sponsorship opportunity.

"At the end of this term we will have been working in partnership with Standard Charted for almost a decade and we continue to collaborate on our shared values, passion and commitment to the community."

News of the sponsorship extension comes as Liverpool near the end of an underwhelming season.

They finished runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, but they are currently fifth, seven points behind City -- albeit with a game in hand -- in the race for Champions League qualification.

Meanwhile, Sunday's 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals means Brendan Rodgers's side will finish the season without silverware.
Source: AFP