REVEALED: Premier League clubs with the smallest proportion of local fans

That old cliche about Manchester United fans hailing from the south might just be true.

But we didn't expect to find out that the same goes for supporters of Liverpool. A new survey has declared fans of the two most successful teams in English football to be those least likely to live close to their home grounds. The YouGov poll of more than 37,000 fans found that less than 30% of Manchester United and Liverpool fans live in the North West, with the South East the second most popular home for fans of the two clubs. In contrast, three in every four Swansea fans are Wales-based, while a similar proportion of Stoke fans live in the West Midlands. Manchester City are almost twice as 'local' as their neighbours, with 52% of supporters living in the North West compared to United's 29%. Perhaps those stereotypes are there for a reason. In Merseyside, meanwhile, 48% of Everton's fans come from the region. This compares favourably with Liverpool, who polled at only 29% local support. When it comes to United and Liverpool, it must be noted, both clubs have a nationwide, and global, appeal derived from years of success and smart commercial enterprises.