FSG approach set for intriguing test against antithesis of Liverpool owners

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In the latest Blood Red column, Ian Doyle looks at the contrasting approaches of Liverpool and Chelsea, who meet at Anfield on SaturdayIf ever there are two clubs diametrically opposed in terms of their perceived fanbase, it's Liverpool and Chelsea.North versus south. Chelsea posted a £262million pre-tax loss in their last accounts, and their fanbase has understandably become restless.There's also a very different way of working regards the dugout.While Liverpool have stumbled through a dismal defence of their Premier League title to place huge pressure under head coach Arne Slot, FSG have, at least until now, shown no signs of losing faith in the man who secured the second championship of their tenure.Chelsea, meanwhile, are seeing out the season with interim boss Calum McFarlane in situ for a second time this campaign with Liam Rosenior having been sacked after less than four months in charge having replaced Enzo Maresca in early January.The Stamford Bridge outfit are, to put it mildly, something of a basket case of a club, which was further underlined on Bank Holiday Monday when they slipped to a sixth successive Premier League loss when beaten at home by a borderline reserve Nottingham Forest team.

Only an injury-time Joao Pedro goal saved them the ignominy of not having scored in any of those defeats.It means what should have been a showdown for a top-five berth at Anfield this lunchtime is instead very much of greater immediate importance to Liverpool with Chelsea no longer able to catch Slot's side with three games still to play.That said, with Aston Villa through to the Europa League final, there remains a possibility that sixth could be sufficient for a Champions League berth. Ridiculous but true.Not that Liverpool will be entertaining slipping down the table as they aim to respond to last week's damaging if hardly terminal defeat at bitter North West rivals Manchester United.Yet come the final analysis, Chelsea supporters are the ones who could be celebrating a trophy this month with an FA Cup final against Manchester City to come next week.Indeed, since Liverpool lifted the Premier League crown last May, the Londoners have won the Conference League and then triumphed in the ill-advised FIFA Club World Cup, a bloated competition the hangover from which has perhaps contributed to their poor league showing.For all their foibles and being very much the antithesis of how FSG envision Liverpool being run, Chelsea keep on picking up silverware or, at the very least, appearing in finals.

But the Londoners have clearly hit on some sort of formula.Where Liverpool have patience with those in the dugout, Chelsea merely roll the dice, wield the axe and move on to the next. Supporters have had their say, and the club's owners have listened.Now the focus can solely be on helping Slot's side gain the victory that would move them to the brink of Champions League qualification - and add some weight to the value of patience and long-term planning.