Premier League fans have had their say via Sky Bet’s Hope Fan survey on who they thought was the biggest club in the north, and Man United came out on top of the table
Fans from all twenty Premier League teams were asked who they thought was the biggest football team in the north of England, as well as a number of other topics, including the best stadium atmosphere and the worst run clubs as part of the survey.
Man United ran out clear winners of the vote with 42% of fans saying they were the biggest team in the north. Whilst the Red Devils may have had their issues on the pitch ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, the red side of Manchester are still the dominant force off the pitch.
It’s been over a decade since Ferguson’s Man United team were winning trophies regularly, whether that be domestically or in Europe. However, in the eyes of fans, their attendance and global pull is still enough to impress fans, and Erik ten Hag did win the Carabao Cup in his first season at the helm and they saw off fellow Northerners Newcastle United at Wembley
In second place is the blue side of Manchester. With 26% of the votes Pep Guardiola’s Man City pipped Liverpool to the runners-up spot in the vote. The Cityzens had an incredible season last year, completing the treble after finally capturing European success under the Catalonian, something which had eluded him ever since his arrival in Manchester back in 2016.
It seems that City’s dominance in the domestic competitions alongside their newly-crowned European champions tag was enough to believe that contrary to some arguments, the Etihad side are bigger than some of their other northern Premier League rivals.
Liverpool are statistically England’s most decorated side with 68 trophies, which includes six Champions Leagues but sit third in the standings. The Anfield atmosphere is one that most fans travel to Merseyside to experience.
However, off the pitch it seems they just can’t compete with Man City’s dominance and rise in popularity. With Man City’s 2008 takeover, they’ve always been closing the gap on their northern rivals on and off the pitch and it seems now they’re leaving Liverpool behind.
Some good news for Liverpool fans is that Man City see them as a bigger threat to the Premier League title than Man Utd. Whilst 47% of the Man City faithful think Arsenal are the biggest threat, 27% of fans are most wary of the red side of Merseyside, and only 13% are worried about the red side of Manchester.
Fresh from Newcastle earning themselves a Champions League spot, Eddie Howe’s Toon Army received 10% of the votes and was voted as the fourth biggest team in the north.
Championship side, Leeds United made up the top five biggest teams in the north with 2% of the votes. Even after their relegation, their rich history of winning the league in 1992 and getting to a Champions League Semi-Final in 2001 was enough to see them take more of the votes than Everton (1%).
Thousands of fans across the country have given their opinion about the new Premier League season including who they think will win the league and what stadium has the best atmosphere.
To see the full Sky Bet Fan Hope Survey, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Man United voted the biggest club in the north of England
Thomas Thorn