Liverpool News: Reds Get Last Laugh After Adidas Snub

It appears Liverpool didn't need Adidas after all.

After the sports apparel giant decided not to renew its deal with the Reds, there were some questions about the team's selling power in today's market. Those questions were answered by a new six-year, £150 million deal with Warrior Sports, according to Mark Ogden of The Telegraph.

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And [Ian] Ayre has hit back at claims by Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer that Liverpool’s absence from European competition has diminished the club’s appeal by pointing to the size of the Warrior deal as proof of the Anfield outfit’s global popularity.

Ayre said: “We are disappointed that Adidas seem to point to a lack of European football as reason not to agree a new deal and cannot see that we are on par with the biggest football brands in the world.”

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It was a head-scratching decision by Adidas from the get-go. Even though the Reds have struggled to bring home hardware recently, they are still one of the most popular clubs on the planet and warrant a major deal like the one Warrior agreed to.

Football continues to grow on the global stage, which means Adidas will probably come to regret their decision to end the company's long-term relationship with Liverpool.

If anything, this change will get Liverpool even more motivation to bring home a trophy next season. The Reds haven't been able to get over the hump since the 2006 FA Cup, and maybe a crazy story like this will give them that extra boost of motivation they need.

One thing Warrior shouldn't do while developing their version of the Liverpool kits is make any drastic changes. The Reds are one of the most storied teams there is, which makes keeping things simple the best way to go.

Too often in the modern sports world, teams attempt to wear the most outlandish jerseys possible in order to draw attention. Liverpool doesn't need to do that—football fans around the globe should be able to recognize the team's kit without having to do a double-take.

All told, the new deal should be terrific for both sides. Liverpool gets a marquee agreement to prove its brand has not diminished despite recent results, and Warrior gets a chance to expand its brand while also getting some extra publicity due to the Adidas drama.

Now everybody involved can return their focus to the pitch, where it belongs.