Liverpool vs Arsenal: which club is REALLY the biggest? (2024)

We're not going to get into old arguments about European trophies and Anfield '89 - here's a very different guide to which club is really the biggest

It's a well-worn debate within a footballing rivalry that spans the decades: which club is bigger, Arsenal or Liverpool?

Fans often argue bitterly over the matter for days straight, locked in a wrangle of terrifying intensity. Liverpool supporters will talk about their historical dominance in the 70s and 80s, but Arsenal fans will counter with a reference to Anfield '89. Liverpool supporters will gloat over their far-superior European successes, but Arsenal fans will strike back with the glory of the "Invincibles".

Nobody ever really gets anywhere. Each club is a giant in its own right - separating the two seems nigh on impossible.

That's why we've come up with this alternative guide to the two clubs. Which one is biggest, by these unusual criteria?

Let's find out.

Biggest individual contribution to the England team - Liverpool

Arsenal's most capped England player is Kenny Sansom, who played 77 times for the national team while at the club. Liverpool's is Steven Gerrard, who won 114 caps in his time with the Reds.

Michael Owen also got 26 goals for England while plying his trade at Anfield, way more than the record 12 Cliff Bastin got while playing for Arsenal back in the 30s. A straightforward win for Liverpool, here.

Biggest home ground - Arsenal

Sure, we all know that the Emirates has a bigger capacity than Anfield at present - the former holds 60,260 spectators, the latter only 45,276.

However, did you know that Arsenal also have a marginally bigger pitch? The Gunners' is 105 by 68 metres as opposed to Liverpool's 101 metres by 68 metres.

They've also got a massive 152 executive suites to Liverpool's paltry 32. In terms of corporate entertainment, the Gunners are smashing it. Take that, Liverpool fans!

Biggest transfer fee received - Liverpool

Both clubs have had to sell a lot of their best players over the years - and it's been gutting for both sets of fans.

However, Liverpool have definitely done better in terms of their top financial return. While Arsenal received a club record £30million from Barcelona for the transfer of Cesc Fabregas back in 2011, the Reds got £75million for Luis Suarez.

Biggest player - Arsenal

Surely the best way to judge which is the biggest club is to find out which one has the biggest player. Literally.

Unsurprisingly, it's Per Mertesacker at 6'6. If the two top-flight giants stood their biggest men back to back, the North London club's lanky German would tower above everyone.

Biggest mascot - Liverpool

It's hard to judge this precisely, but we're pretty sure Liverpool have the biggest mascot. The Liver Bird has a pointy head which we reckon probably pips Gunnersaurus in the height stakes.

Some might argue that Gunnersaurus is more recognisable and successful, but there we go. It wouldn't be a "biggest club" piece without some major controversy.

Biggest club brand - Arsenal

According to the most recent figures, Arsenal clearly beat Liverpool in terms of the value of their Premier League brands - the Gunners are worth $703million, the Reds only $577million.

Arsenal also have 6.22 million Twitter followers to Liverpool's 4.71million, suggesting they have a broader global reach. Mmmm. Marketing.

Those are the alternative criteria for the size of the two clubs. Which is bigger, then? Well, to be honest, it's still pretty much up for debate.

Arsenal or Liverpool, which club is the biggest? There's only one way to settle it - we'll let you decide.

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Which club is the biggest, Arsenal or Liverpool?

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When it comes to football clubs, the debate on which one holds the mantle as the "biggest" often delves into various aspects beyond the traditional measures of success. Here's an analysis based on the criteria mentioned in the article:

Criteria Explored:

Biggest individual contribution to the England team: Liverpool wins this, boasting players like Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, who amassed significant caps and goals for England while at Anfield.
Biggest home ground: Arsenal edges ahead here with the Emirates Stadium having a larger capacity and a slightly bigger pitch compared to Anfield. Additionally, the greater number of executive suites enhances their corporate entertainment aspect.
Biggest transfer fee received: Liverpool emerges victorious in this aspect, having received a higher transfer fee for Luis Suarez compared to Arsenal's record fee for Cesc Fabregas.
Biggest player: Arsenal claims this with Per Mertesacker, standing at 6'6", surpassing in height any of Liverpool's players.
Biggest mascot: This one's subjective, but the Liver Bird of Liverpool is suggested to be taller, potentially edging out Gunnersaurus.
Biggest club brand: Arsenal takes the lead in brand value and social media following, demonstrating a higher value of their Premier League brand and a larger Twitter following compared to Liverpool.

Conclusion:

The metrics employed in this alternative guide provide varied perspectives, but the determination of which club is "bigger" remains subjective. Each criterion highlights different aspects of a football club's stature, from player contributions to brand value and stadium infrastructure. Ultimately, the significance one places on these diverse factors might sway their opinion, but in the end, the debate on whether Arsenal or Liverpool is the "biggest" club still largely rests on individual perspectives and allegiances.