Why Chelsea's game with Liverpool could define their season and future

The modern history of Chelsea is littered with matches that have changed the very fabric of the football club's being. This Saturday, the lunchtime visit of Liverpool to Stamford Bridge could see one that determines it's direction some time to come.

Granted, this is no Bolton away, May 7 1983 – when a Clive Walker goal, often cited as the most important in the 110 year story of the club, saved Blues from relegation to the Third Division, and almost certain extinction.

It is also not Liverpool at home, May 11 2003, when an almost as severe threat to Chelsea's financial future was wiped out by the strikes of Jesper Gronkjaer and Marcel Desailly, to secure Champions League qualification, and the ensuing £1bn+ investment of Roman Abramovich.

And it is not Bayern in the Alianz Arena, 19 May 2012, when against all the odds it was written in the stars for Didier Drogba's penalty to deflect from a future that was more Marko Marin than Eden Hazard.

But, with Jose Mourinho's tenure hanging by a thread, many will see this as a moment where different versions of tomorrow's history might have their beginning.

What is at stake here is not quite as dramatic as the club's existence and viability – or not yet, at least.

If Mourinho can turn things around, there is no reason why the lowly position of 15th might be transformed into the Champions League qualification that has now become the holy grail in football, and which will keep the cash coming in.

The gap, between Chelsea and Manchester United in fourth, is but nine points – a hop, skip and a jump for a re-energised team that would have re-found its form with 28 games to play, assuming there's a convincing win over the Reds.

But, should that turnaround fail to happen soon, and Liverpool on Saturday is agreed by a great many to be the point by which it is really needed, far more damaging possibilities lay ahead.

Some argue that Chelsea can live without Champions League football for a season: Abramovich has deep pockets; and it doesn't seem to have overly harmed Manchester United.

But, though a great deal of this is about revenue, there are other far greater concerns: regarding the continuing growth of the club's support, the viability of the Stamford Bridge redevelopment, and the attraction and retention of world class playing staff.

Manchester United are a far bigger club than Chelsea, with far better established worldwide mass support, and it will take more than a season out of the Champions League to change that.

Chelsea, though well advanced in their development as one of the world's super clubs, are in a far more perilous position – and parallels might be drawn with Valencia, whose blip was long lasting and caused major problems for their new ground development.

The visit of Liverpool is major because it presents two likely paths: continuing with the man many still believe holds the key success for the Blues; and a return to the familiar route of sacking, appointing an interim, and trying the best to salvage something from the ashes of the season. (Before appointing a new big name next season, and starting the whole cycle again).

Of course, unlike those other pivotal matches mentioned, this one is not in May: it is not, as all the others were to one extent or another, a 'final'.

While defeat on Saturday may mean that Mourinho has managed his last game for Chelsea, a win does not put to death the continued speculation over his long (and even short) term future.

Chelsea could put in a display of incredible dominance against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, winning by multiple goals, but that will do little for Mourinho's tenure if disappointing results follow against Dynamo Kiev and Stoke before the international break.

And where would that most likely of results, a draw, leave all the parties concerned?

By 3pm on Saturday we will know some of the answers to the raft of questions presently surrounding Chelsea Football Club. But there will surely be many more we will still have no clue about for some time to come.