It is not a bad time to be a fan of Liverpool Football Club. The team is currently in second place in the English Premier League, and they aren’t too far behind in the Champion’s League race. Young phenom Mohamed Salah is driving the team’s success as of late, but if you know Liverpool, you know that the team is much more than one player and much more than one year. Liverpool’s success has transcended eras, gaining them the reputation of one of the elite football clubs in the world. Alongside their deep trophy case lies an impressive social portfolio; in short, Liverpool is successful on and off the field- successful enough to land them the #5 spot in FanWide’s European soccer rankings.
Visit FanWide.com to find a Liverpool F.C. game watch party or fan club near you.
Methodology:
The European soccer scene is unique in that it consists of 5 different comparable leagues. Unlike sports like football and basketball in the USA, which have teams that have competed against each other for years, some European soccer teams might face each other once every five to ten years. Naturally, ranking these teams is a challenge. FanWide’s goal in ranking the top ten European soccer teams was to use metrics that acknowledge the fact that not all teams get a chance to play each other. By using metrics like FanWide’s fan data, the focus in our rankings was split between on and off-field success. As a result, our top ten ranking consists of the most prominent, internationally significant European soccer clubs, accounting for but not solely relying on titles and wins. In the coming weeks, FanWide will be rolling out the top ten, building up to the reveal of the #1 soccer club in Europe. Check out this blog, for a breakdown of the metrics.
European Soccer Top 10:
8. Juventus FC
7. Chelsea FC
6. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
Liverpool Ranked:
| Category | Count | Rank |
| Fan Clubs (FanWide) | 71 | 2 |
| Champions League Wins (all time) | 5 | 3 |
| UEFA Player of the Year Top Ten Finalists (since 2014) | 2 | 6 |
| Attendance (Average 2018) | 52,840 | 11 |
| Forbes Value (in billions) | 1.94 | 8 |
| Total Social Media Followers | 54.5 | 8 |
| Domestic League Titles (all time) | 18 | 6 |
| Domestic League Titles (since 2009) | 0 | 13 (tie) |
Fan Clubs (according to FanWide): 71 (2nd)
FanWide accounted for 71 Liverpool fan clubs across the world. This ranks second amongst European soccer teams. Liverpool’s fan base is widespread and strong. Liverpool ranks highest in the fan club metric, something that can only be attributed to devoted fans who have established Liverpool hubs in their hometowns and beyond. If you are a Liverpool fan who wants to set up a local fan club in your city, let us know!
All-Time Champions League Wins: 5 (3rd)
Liverpool’s 5 Champions League trophies rank 3rd all-time. In one of the most prestigious competitions in the sport, Liverpool has proven that they can not only hang with but be the best. This success can be attributed to legends like Steven Gerrard (the 2005 Champions League Final Man of the Match), and fans have reason to anticipate the emergence of another star of Gerrard’s caliber soon.
UEFA Player of the Year Top Ten Finalists (since 2014): 2 (tied-6th)
Liverpool has produced a top 10 European player (in UEFA’s eyes) twice in the past five years: Luis Suarez in 2013, and Mohamed Salah in 2017. While Luis Suarez has moved on to Barcelona, Mohamed Salah is a force for Liverpool when healthy. A true superstar, Salah has garnered a lot of attention as of late, in particular helping his home nation of Egypt qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The team has benefitted from the publicity.
Attendance (Average 2018): 52,840 (11th)
Liverpool’s sees an average of 52,840 attendees at each home match. In doing so, they fill their home stadium, Anfield. Anfield has been Liverpool’s home since they were founded in 1892. There are currently plans to expand the stadium from a capacity of approximately 54,000 to 61,000. With the sixth largest stadium in England, Liverpool has sufficient capacity to keep their fans happy and entertained, but more capacity would allow them to get more fans to fall in love with the team in person.
Team Value: 1.94 B (8th)
According to Forbes, Liverpool Football Club is worth 1.94 billion USD. The valuation ranks Liverpool 8th amongst European football clubs, a testament to the money in European soccer today. The valuation considers match day revenue, broadcasting deals, merchandise sales, and outstanding debts.
Aggregate Social Media Followers: 54.5 million (8th)
FanWide accounted for 10.9 million Instagram followers, 11.6 million Twitter followers, and 32 million Facebook likes in this ranking. Liverpool’s 54.8 million total social media followers provide evidence of their social prominence and presence.
Domestic League Titles: 9th
Liverpool has won 18 English league titles in their history, but 0 in the past 10 years. Their 18 titles’ significance is compounded by the fact that they play in one of the more competitive leagues. It’s an understatement to say that Liverpool has established themselves as a force in English soccer, but while they have come close, they haven’t been able to close the deal in recent years. In fact, Liverpool has yet to win the English Premier League (a name coined in the 1992-1993 season)- although they’ve won the Champions League in this span. This is a testament to the quality of competition in English football.
Liverpool currently sits at #5 in FanWide’s European soccer club rankings. No matter where you live or travel, you can find Liverpool fan clubs and watch parties near you through FanWide, the world’s largest fan club network.
After you are done checking out the rest of our top 10 European soccer teams, take a look at our top 10 MLB, NBA, and NFL franchises!
Follow the rankings on social media: @FanWide and #Top10Team
Click here to read about our #4 team!