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Gary Lineker's view on Liverpool may not go down too well with many supporters(Image: YouTube/The Rest is Football)

Gary Lineker snubbed Liverpool and proclaimed Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United as the three biggest football clubs on the planet.

The Reds have been fierce rivals with United for decades, but have also suffered a lot of pain at the hands of the two Spanish giants.

Real Madrid have beaten Liverpool in two Champions League finals since 2018, while Barcelona were able to sway both Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho to Catalunya.



Madrid have also seemingly convinced Trent Alexander-Arnold to move to the Bernabeu, with the right-back recently confirming he will depart Anfield on a free transfer at the end of the season.

While no club boasts more European honours than Los Blancos' haul of 15 Champions League and European Cups, the Reds have more major European titles than Barcelona, winning six compared to the Catalans' five, and United, who have won three.

Despite the difference in numbers, Lineker claimed United, Barcelona and Real Madrid were all bigger than Liverpool.

Speaking to La Liga TV in 2023, he said: "I think in the world's big three football clubs, it's probably Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United in terms of stature.

"We all know Real Madrid is a proper football club.

I'm biased towards Barcelona [as a former player], we don't love Real Madrid in Barcelona to put it mildly.

"But they are a sensational football club and an incredibly successful football club that play brilliant football."

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This weekend will be the last time Lineker oversees a highlights package featuring Liverpool on Match of the Day.

The ex-England international was initially going to stop presenting the BBC's highlights coverage of Premier League football, but continue fronting live FA Cup fixtures as well as that of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, before walking away from the BBC.

Liverpool supporters have suffered a lot of pain at the hands of Real Madrid(Image: VI-Images via Getty Images)

However, Lineker announced he will step down for good after this weekend's episode.
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