Liverpool just broke US TV record as Man Utd beaten and FSG strategy working a treat

Liverpool and Arsenal made a piece of history in their recent Premier League match-up, surpassing rival Manchester United and continuing an exciting trend.

One of the most eagerly awaited matches of the Premier League season so far was Liverpool vs. Arsenal on Saturday. An exciting championship race match-up took place at Anfield under the lights on the last weekend before Christmas, leaving spectators spellbound.

Both teams were a point ahead of the Reds in second position going into the round of matches as the top two teams in the standings. Gabriel headed in the first goal for Arsenal within the first five minutes, giving them a commanding lead. However, Mohamed Salah scored a brilliant goal shortly after the half, and although Trent Alexander-Arnold gave Liverpool the closest chance in the second half, neither team was able to find the winner.

After 20 years of playing and coaching English football, visiting manager Mikel Arteta described the match as “unbelievable” and “one of the most intense” he had ever seen at Anfield. According to journalist James Nalton on X (previously Twitter), 1.96 million Americans watched the game on NBC Sports, Peacock, or NBC Sports Digital Sports. This is a new record for American spectatorship of a Premier League match.

That honor was previously held by a different Arsenal game, this one being its home match versus Manchester United in January that drew 1.92 million viewers. Eddie Nketiah’s goal late in the game would give Arteta’s team a 3-2 victory.

According to Liverpool.com, several aspects stick out when comparing the remaining four positions in the top five. First, just six days before to the match against Arsenal, Liverpool’s goalless draw with Manchester United is ranked third on 1.77m.

This demonstrates the club’s appeal in the US, which has been a cornerstone of the Boston-based owners FSG’s business plan. Jürgen Klopp made the decision to travel his team across the Atlantic for preseason tours in both 2016 and 2019, and it appears that these kinds of decisions have a lasting effect.

The other headline is that all five games—Arsenal vs. United in September, which is the fourth match (1.48 million) and Manchester City vs. Spurs in February, which is the fifth (1.47 million)—have happened this year. It’s evident that the league is expanding, which can only be beneficial for the value of television rights and the business prospects open to the top teams, like Liverpool.