Premier League clubs ranked by likeability – from least to most, including every current top flight team

Football is about tribal rivalry, but sometimes you can develop a soft spot for another club.

We’re not saying you divide your support. Instead, some clubs simply engender warmer feelings than others.

Let’s say two teams are playing each other and you support neither. You’ll often pick a club you’d prefer to win, even if it has no effect on your own team’s position.

Just for fun, we have come up with a ranking of Premier League clubs based on just such likeability.

Click the right arrow above to see how we ranked them, from the most dislikeable to the most loved.

No doubt you’ll disagree! So get stuck in and share your thoughts – just leave a comment below.

20 20. In last place it's Chelsea – Read below for an explanation, then click the right arrow above to see who we think the most likeable Premier League club is… – The poster boys for the nouveau riche football club as they spent their way to the top (and consistent success rarely breeds affection from rival fans). They had Jose Mourinho in charge for years, which didnt do their image any good, while the incident with Dr Eva Carneiro was extremely unsavoury. Add to that John Terry and Diego Costa, and its tough to love Chelsea (if you're not a Chelsea fan, that is). Antonio Conte could change that this season, though.

20 19. Manchester United – For years it was Anyone But United, the Red Devils dominance in the 90s and much of the noughties led them to be disliked by many. Fergie Time and their leading role in the commercialisation of the game added to the hate, meanwhile Jose Mourinho is doing his best to make them more disliked. Only Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford can save them.

20 18. Arsenal – For years they were 'Boring, boring Arsenal', but despite an image change on the pitch under Arsene Wenger, the Gunners still annoy the pants off non-Gooners. They might play, on the whole, good football, but they continue to cock things up in the most frustrating way possible, flirting with major success only to see it all go to pot, which feeds a boom and bust mentality among fans. Perhaps it's this knack of blowing good positions that has led to an almost impressively fickle attitude among many Arsenal fans, with players going from loved to loathed in a blink of the eye. Take Olivier Giroud, who has scored 87 goals in 196 games, but is undervalued by many. Arsenal Fan TV  while entertaining  has only helped to spread the feeling that the Gunners' support are a divided circus.

20 17. West Ham United – If constantly telling everyone you won the World Cup in 1966 doesnt annoy anyone, then claiming youre the academy of football will. The Hammers love to brag, but have limited success to show for it. Now the current London Stadium fiasco is adding another reason to the list of why theyre not flying high in this likeability list. Michail Antonio is a bright spot though, and many want to see him do well, while the honesty and charisma of manager Slaven Bilic helps buy goodwill too.

20 16. Tottenham Hotspur – The weekly accumulator ruiner, Spurs are disliked for being, well, Spursy. You cant rely on them to beat your rivals in the Premier League table, and they will stop your bets on a Saturday  you just cant trust them. Their fans love a moan too. They currently have a team full of superstars and forget they once had the likes of Paolo Tramezzani at their club. But Mauricio Pochettino is well respected and there's a certain amount of sympathy at how often they seem to be the butt of Arsenal fan's jokes. Not too much, mind.

20 15. Watford – Theyre a pretty inoffensive club but their ownership has made it harder to like the Hornets in recent times. A revolving door of managers, and loans deals coming out of their ears while in the Championship didnt help their image. The fact the English Football League is now investigating Gino Pozzos takeover also detracts from the likeability of their players and fans.

20 14. Crystal Palace – After years of yo-yoing, the Eagles have now become an established Premier League team but theyre not quite as likeable as you think. Alan Pardew is hard to warm to and they prove to be a frustrating team to watch.

20 13. Sunderland – Serial strugglers, it gets boring watching the same team lose week-in, week-out before they perform miracles at the tail end of the season. The goalscoring exploits of Jermain Defoe are enjoyable, but the team are not exactly easy on the eye.

20 12. Liverpool – Their teams often excite and play attacking football, which is great to watch, especially as their defence has previously been woeful too. It's fun viewing Liverpool as a neutral but, as soon as success beckons their fans can become insufferable. They would be liked more if their supporters were a little more humble. Issues surrounding Luis Suarez also affected their likeability, but Jurgen Klopps honesty and wide-ranging emotions are winning neutrals round.

20 11. West Bromwich Albion – There are a mixture of views about the Baggies, who have now spent seven consecutive seasons in the top-flight. Tony Pulis men dont play pretty football, but they get the job done. This, however, limits their competitiveness, as they neither challenge for Europe or battle against relegation. Pulis legal battle with Crystal Palace has dented his reputation, though. Thankfully, honest, hardworking stars like Gareth McAuley, Jonny Evans, and Darren Fletcher enhance their reputation.

20 10. Middlesbrough – One of the most beige teams in the Premier League sits at tenth in the list. There is nothing glaringly nasty about them, but nothing hugely endearing either. Many fans do have very fond memories of their team from the late 90s, which included Juninho, Emerson, and Fabrizio Ravanelli.

20 9. Hull City – The Tigers have given us some great memories, despite never being a huge football club. Classic wins over Arsenal and Tottenham, Dean Windass at Wembley, Jimmy Bullards celebration and Phil Browns tan. Current stars Curtis Davies, Tom Huddlestone, Michael Dawson, Robert Snodgrass and Sam Clucas add to the likeability, although ownership issues cast the club in a poor light.

20 8. Stoke City – Gone are the days of the old school long ball football and in is Mark Hughes Stokelona with Bojan, Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Joe Allen giving them some real quality. Mark Hughes seems a decent man, while chairman Peter Coates is honest and forthcoming too. Oatcakes and goals are a wonderful combination.

20 7. Burnley – Whats not to enjoy? A string of players reviving their careers, some young stars earning their stripes, and the gravelly voice of Sean Dyche, all at one Premier League club.

20 6. Swansea City – When they came into the Premier League, their neat passing game attracted plenty of admirers. Theyve lost their way, and a few managers, since, but remain a pleasant team, even if the results and football arent as good as they were before.

20 5. Manchester City – Sure, they were pumped full of money in the same way as Chelsea, but they seem to be spending it wisely, improving local infrastructure too. Their players are also a lot more likeable  who doesnt enjoy seeing Man City do well when Sergio Aguero is your Fantasy Premier League captain. Players like David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne, and Fernandinho command respect, and the only recent downsides have been incidents involving Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling. Man United fans don't like the fact City have usurped them on the pitch, while Arsenal fans hated the way their club's talent was raided by City. Otherwise few could begrudge seeing fans who stuck by a club that sank down to the third tier in the late 1990s, enjoying long overdue success. The longer they remain funded by oil wealth, however, the less likeable they will seem.

20 4. Leicester City – The Foxes were the fairytale story of last season and most probably the century. We wont remind you again about the whole thing but watching Claudio Ranieri and Wes Morgan lift the Premier League trophy was a brilliant moment for football. The fact they are struggling this season only helps to make them seem more endearing.

20 3. Bournemouth – The cheerful Cherries bubble hasnt popped just yet. Under Eddie Howe, most neutrals root for the south coast club and even the arrival of the divisive Jack Wilshere hasnt detracted from their likeability. The rise of stars like Simon Francis and Charlie Daniel is great to see too.

20 2. Southampton – The Saints have been a marvellous addition to the Premier League since their return in 2012. Theyve impressed with their resilience as they continually nurture young talents only to see them move on to bigger clubs, and also lose quality managers. They usually conduct themselves correctly on and off the pitch and are now succeeding on the European stage too.