Arsenal have you covered by a mile. Its a tight run race with Chelsea. For the lack of marketability they have in Asia they have it in spades in Europe, Africa and elsewhere. Chelsea are a Champs League club you are not. Chelsea as of today have you covered but only just. Itd put you 4th as far as EPL clubs go with Tottenham and Man City set to pounce. A matter of when and not if they take your mantle.
Bayern Real Barca have you covered. In time the Russian Premier League will gain more limelight and clubs like CSKA Moscow will come knocking too. You were a big fish in a small pond. Now your just a big fish in the ocean. A ocean your getting lost in
As I explained in a later post (apologies for not initally making myself clearer), I'm talking purely in terms of the EPL, not Europe as a whole. I'm well aware that Barcelona and Real Madrid have larger global followings than Liverpool.
Generally, though, you seem to be placing too much emphasis on contemporary success - and not giving enough credence to history and global standing - in formulating your assessment of club popularity. By your reasoning, Wigan would be a bigger club than Leeds, which is patently not the case.
Godzke, in reference to your second Forbes link, I quote from the article: ``Forbes determined the value using previous sales, broadcast agreements and debt from stadium construction''.
Thanks for the link, as it makes for interesting reading, but I'm not talking about brand value, as such, but more brand appeal, where global fan-bases and brand recognition are the most important determinants. Obviously such an assessment is very difficult to make with a league like the EPL, where supporter enclaves exist in virtually every country.
Here's a press release on club website hits, though -
http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2007/05/European_Football_Clubs.
It is from 2007, so a bit out of date, and is only a limited sample, but it does give an insight into Liverpool's enduring global popularity, despite years of middling on-field results. Which brings me back to my original point: Liverpool is a unique case compared to previous English clubs that have gone into administration. I'm not suggesting they're in a good situation by any stretch of the imagination, but they're popularity, especially in Asia, may yet prove to be their saviour.