Unless you’re particularly plugged into the private equity sphere or The Telegraph takeover saga, Gerry Cardinale is probably the most powerful member of Liverpool’s ownership structure that you’ve never heard of.

Cardinale is the founder and owner of RedBird Capital Partners, a Madison Avenue-headquartered investment firm with offices in 10 cities worldwide. They claim to have £46bn of assets on their books.

In 2021, RedBird bought a stake in Fenway Sports Group for £533m. That means that they are a Liverpool shareholder once removed.

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And with their 11 per cent stake in FSG roughly matching those held by Tom Werner (chairman) and Mike Gordon (director), Cardinale is one of the most powerful men with the keys to Fenway’s Boston nerve centre. Only John Henry – Liverpool and FSG’s principal owner – owns significantly more shares.

Liverpool ownership diagram Credit: Adam Williams/TBR Football/GRV Media

But to what extent, if at all, does the 58-year-old actually wield that influence at Anfield?

Well, there is some evidence in how UEFA has handled his investment in another giant of European football, one who are umbilically attached to Liverpool’s history: AC Milan.

RedBird bought the seven-time European champions in August...