Liverpool argue for greater share of Premier League's overseas TV money to go to elite clubs

In a move which will provoke strong opposition from other Premier League members, Anfield chief executive Ian Ayre claims the top clubs are being short-changed by an ‘inbalanced’ deal.

He says the future success of the elite clubs is being threatened because the current set-up does not recognise major differentials in popularity in the foreign TV market.

This weekend’s clash between Liverpool and Manchester United will be one of the most watched sporting fixtures this season across 213 worldwide territories.

The dividends from such a high profile global fixture will benefit all English clubs rather than just the two involved.

The Premier League is 18 months into a three-year contract for international broadcasting rights, and although Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are the most supported teams in areas such as Asia, the overseas kitty is shared equally between all 20 Premier League members.

“At some point we definitely feel there has to be some rebalance because what we are actually doing is disadvantaging ourselves against other big European clubs,” said Ayre.

“If you’re a Bolton fan in Bolton, then you subscribe to Sky because you want to watch Bolton, and if you’re a Liverpool fan from Liverpool, you subscribe to watch Liverpool.

But if you’re in Kuala Lumpur there isn’t anyone subscribing to ESPN to watch Bolton, or if they are it’s a very small number.

The large majority are subscribing because they want to watch Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal.

“So is it right that the international rights are shared equally between all the clubs?

Isn’t it really about which teams people want to watch on that channel? It is us and others.”

Ayre points out how in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid have been allowed to negotiate individual television rights, earning around £130 million a year.

The top Premier League clubs earn half that. That is despite an overwhelming difference in viewing figures between the Premier League and rivals across Europe.

Last season, the Premier League commanded viewing returns of 4.7 billion across 212 territories.

A survey published on Tuesday by Sport+Mart revealed 1.46 billion people, 70 per cent of the world’s football fans, support a Premier League club.

Ayre’s argument is that the vast majority of those supporters follow Liverpool, United, Chelsea or Arsenal.

“If Real Madrid or Barcelona or other big European clubs have the opportunity to truly realise their international media value potential, where does that leave Liverpool and Man United?” said Ayre.

“Do we just share ours because we’ll all be nice to each other?

"The whole phenomenon of the Premier League could be threatened.

"If the Spanish clubs just get bigger and bigger and they generate more and more, then all the players will start drifting that way.

"Will the Premier League bubble be burst because we are sticking to this equal-sharing model? It’s a real debate that has to happen.”

Liverpool’s hope of forcing a change of policy is likely to be strongly opposed by the majority of Premier League chairmen.

It would require the support of two-thirds of the League’s members, which is highly unlikely before the next overseas TV deal is negotiated before 2013.

The Premier League argues it is the collective strength of the clubs which makes English football so attractive, and individual rights would decrease its value.