Nothing to do with titles: Liverpool beat Real Madrid and Barcelona in a global race
Liverpool have been ranked first among European clubs according to research conducted by an independent global organisation.
Andoni Iraola's first weeks in charge have brought mixed results. Liverpool opened the 2026-2027 season with 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, either side of a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.
Attention now shifts to the Champions League, where the Reds open the league phase against Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday.
On Monday, Liverpool published the results of a study by the "Harris and Toluna" organisation on their official website. It ranked the Reds ahead of major clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona, crowning them the most culturally relevant football club in the world according to independent global research.
Researchers surveyed 22 international markets. The study found that 31 per cent of participants identified Liverpool as a leading cultural force, ahead of Europe's giants.
Liverpool Football Club said in a statement: "Liverpool's ranking reflects the club's growing influence beyond the pitch, as its global reach continues to expand across social media, broadcasting and digital platforms, including in the United States of America."
The numbers back it up. Over the past year, the club racked up 14.7 billion views on social media, 37% more than the next-highest Premier League club. Fans made it the most engaged club in the Premier League for the third season running, and its website drew 96.16 million global visits to become the most visited in the league.
The Reds' statement continued: "Through fan culture, storytelling, international events, innovative content and community initiatives, the club continues to connect with supporters in ways that go beyond football to include wider conversations in the fields of sport, entertainment and popular culture."
On sports broadcasting rights, Liverpool topped the list of the most culturally influential clubs with 31% against 25% for their closest competitor, ahead of major global sports brands.
The American market told the same story. There the Reds ranked first as the most culturally influential European football club with 18% against 13% for the club in second.
Hannah Beam, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Digital at Liverpool, said: "To see the club recognised as the most culturally influential football club reflects the breadth of our community, from the passionate fan culture and our roots in Liverpool, to our global fanbase."
