Subtle abnormalities of cardiac structure or function are often identified in patients with liver cirrhosis and have been termed cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. However, in the absence of a precise definition, its diagnosis remains a challenge. Cardiac dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis can often be attributed to concomitant diseases such as hypertension, ischaemic heart disease or excess alcohol consumption in many patients. Further research is required to identify the existence, origin and importance of abnormal cardiac function due specifically to liver disease. Cardiac dysfunction may be masked by treatments given to cirrhotic patients, such as mineral-corticoid receptor antagonists, or by co-existing conditions, such as anaemia. New imaging tests or plasma biomarkers might be able to detect abnormal cardiac function at an early stage of its development.