Liverpool are exploring the prospect of negotiating their own TV rights deal. The Daily Mail says Liverpool will consider negotiating their own overseas television rights deal in a move that will send shockwaves around the Barclays Premier League.

The £1.4billion contract, which expires in 2013, is currently shared equally between the 20 top-flight clubs.

But Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre insists that his club must consider going it alone if they are not to be left in the slipstream of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Ayre said: "There are so many things moving in that particular area. What is absolutely certain is that, with the greatest of respect to our colleagues in the Premier League, if you're a Bolton fan in Bolton, then you subscribe to Sky because you want to watch Bolton. Everyone gets that.

"Likewise, if you're a Liverpool fan from Liverpool, you subscribe. But if you're in Kuala Lumpur there isn't anyone subscribing to Astro or ESPN to watch Bolton. If they are, it's a small number. The majority are subscribing as they want to watch Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal.

"So is it right that the international rights are shared equally between all the clubs? Some people will say, "Well, you've got to all be in it to make it happen", but isn't it really about where the revenue is coming from and about who people want to watch on that channel? We know it is us and others. At some point we definitely feel there has to be some rebalance on that because we are disadvantaging ourselves against other big European clubs."