A recent global survey shows that Liverpool are the 9th most supported club worldwide and only 4th inside British football.
Liverpool fall below United (354m), Chelsea (135m) and Arsenal (113m) to an estimated total of 71m fans worldwide.
It's also been reported that Liverpool/United games are no longer the most attractive to audiences with Chelsea/United games are now the most widely watched globally.
I'm curious to know what fellow United fans think of this. It's long been regarded that United and Liverpool are the great powerhouses of English football, with the odd pretender thrown in throughout history, thus making this weekends game one of the most anticipated of the year, but does Liverpool's wain threaten the nature of the United/Liverpool rivalry? Will derby days in the future simply just mean City games? Does history count for more than just success and global fanbase? Will these games always have the same meaning?..........Will Liverpool regain some of their lustre?
Liverpool 4th
posted on 13/10/11
who cares what people around the world think of our clubs. Surely it's the actual rivalries here in England that matter don't you think? Spurs vs Arsenal is a bigger game than Chelsea vs Utd in terms of a rivalry no matter historical league position so viewing figures only tell a small story of what people actually care about.
As with the north london derby Utd vs Liverpool will always be a massive game no matter respective league positions at any given time as the 2 cities hate each other.
Links for the stats?
Link for the stats at all?
posted on 13/10/11
United v arsenal/chelsea may have had more importance for the title over recent years but this game (liverpool) always feels to me like "the" game. I know a lot of people won't like to admit it but i love this fixture, probably has something to do with growing up watching the great liverpool teams of the 70s/80s clear up. Winning no 19 was something i could only have dreamt of in them days but here we are sitting on our perch. The two best clubs in the country going head to head, lets go there and show them who's boss now.
posted on 13/10/11
This was a poll of 1000 people carried out by a German marketting firm. 1000 people! How did they work out the numbers in the millions for 1000 people?
posted on 13/10/11
Germans are efficient. 1000 people from 36 countries. 36,000 people.
posted on 13/10/11
German efficiency is a myth. Trust me!
posted on 13/10/11
Probably surveyed during the Oktober fest while they were all p!$$@d.
As for the comment, 'It's long been regarded that United and Liverpool are the great powerhouses of English football', considering what they have both won domestically, and that none of the others mentioned have won the european cup once, let alone 3 or 5 times, I think it would be safe to say that they are.
posted on 13/10/11
jloo1978......well said me thinks!
posted on 13/10/11
No, for me the United Liverpool PL fixtures is always the most important 2 matches of the season, domestically.
Even though Liverpool perhaps aren't what they were a few seasons ago (they do look like they have improved now however) they are still our main rivals, ahead of City. Beating Liverpool is far more satisfying than beating City still, or anyone else.
No other team in England will match Liverpool or United for both Clubs sheer stature for a very long time yet,
So yes, for me the rivalry between our two Clubs is far more important and intense than that of say United and City, or United and Arsenal/Chelsea.
WE MUST WIN ON SATURDAY
posted on 14/10/11
Thanks for the comments.
I think for the time being it will always be the games United and Liverpool fans look forward/dread, but in time I think a more normal 'derby' mentality will take place.
The historic division between Liverpool and Manchester will at some point wain and the rise/fall of other domestic powers will dilute the fixture. Maybe in the next 10-15 years.
Untill then lets enjoy the occasion and relish the coming fixtures.