The coronavirus pandemic will end up costing Europe's top clubs around two billion euros, according to forecasts from Deloitte.

The finance firm's annual Football Money League shows that the top 20 revenue-generating clubs lost around 1.1bn euros (£975million) during the 2019-20 season due to factors including the lack of spectators and effect on broadcast income.

Some of the latter will be made up in the 2020-21 accounts, along with deferred prize money for many clubs, but the ongoing effects of the virus see the drop in revenue projected to reach 2bn euros (£1.75bn) between the 20 clubs.

Liverpool and Manchester City rank fifth and sixth with Chelsea and Tottenham also in the top 10, Arsenal 11th and Everton 17th.

The Toffees were one of only two clubs in the top 20, along with newcomers Zenit St Petersburg, to actually post improved revenues compared to 12 months previously – but it is their neighbours across Stanley Park who Bridge expects to thrive in years to come.

He said: "A club such as Liverpool, who've made a concerted effort to engage with fans using digital and social media channels – that may well have created new revenue-generating opportunities and may mean they've gained a competitive advantage."

West Ham dropped out of the top 20 along with Roma – but it is clubs much further down the pecking order, in the lower leagues, who will suffer most from reduced incomes.

Bridge said: "Matchday revenue for these biggest clubs is their smallest proportion whereas the further down the system you go, the bigger that proportion is.

"The loss of fans is really felt most acutely by those clubs further down the system. That's why the support packages that have been talked about are absolutely essential to the future of these clubs."