Liverpool close in on United in battle for global fans

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Liverpool close in on United in battle for global fans

It isnot just on the pitch that Liverpool are closing the gap on ManchesterUnited: the English Premier League (League) leaders are also winningthe battle for new fans around the world.

The biggest-eversurvey of League fans across the globe has revealed that Liverpool areon the verge of toppling United from their perch as the best-supportedclub in the world's favourite league.

The survey, organised by the League's principal sponsors, Barclays, polled 32,000 fans in 185 countries and territories.

Unitedremain the most popular club but only by the tiniest of margins withboth teams attracting the backing of 26 per cent of the supporters whotook part in the voluntary survey.

For Liverpool, thatrepresents a significant advance on the 18 percent figure theyregistered in a similar but smaller survey carried out by Barclaysthree years ago.

The popularity of Liverpool's biggest starsalso suggests that United's status as the most valuable brand inEnglish football is under siege.

Cristiano Ronaldo may have beena near unanimous choice for this year's Ballon d'Or after inspiring hisclub to a Premier League and Champions League double.

But he trails behind Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in terms of popularity among fans.

Historically,Thierry Henry continues to be regarded as the greatest player to havegraced the Premier League since its launch in 1992 - although it isHenry's Barcelona team-mate, Lionel Messi, that fans regard as the mostdesirable target among stars currently plying their trade outsideEngland.

There are important regional differences in thesurvey's findings. Eric Cantona is still the king for fans in SouthAfrica and United are still out in front as the most popular team inAsia, buoyed perhaps by the fact that South Korean midfielder ParkJi-Sung is now a regular at Old Trafford.

The survey is notencouraging for Chelsea's hopes of supplanting Manchester United as theEnglish club with the biggest international fan base.

The westLondon club appear to be regarded as this season's team to beat - 37per cent of fans tipped them to win the title - but only ten per centare willing to declare themselves supporters, well behind Arsenal (15per cent), as well as the market leaders Manchester United andLiverpool.

The survey offers intriguing insights into theimportance of the League in the lives of its followers: over two thirdsof them will have splashed out on a replica shirt and nearly halfregard football as more important than family matters, job orrelationship issues.

The poll also reflects technological changewith the internet (82 per cent of those polled) now almost as importanta medium for the enjoyment of football as television (92 per cent).

Newspapersmeanwhile have been relegated to third place (55 percent) and are undersiege from new platforms such as internet feeds to mobile phones.

Sometraditional aspects of English football culture continue to dominatewith the passion of fans and the atmosphere in the country's stadiumsranked as the most attractive feature of the League, ahead of theattacking style of play.

And despite the huge influence ofnon-English players, the vitality of the League continues to be seen asa strong base for England's national team.

They may have failedto make Euro 2008 under Steve McClaren, but League fans around theworld have made them Fabio Capello's squad favourites to lift the WorldCup in South Africa next year