Will Success for Red Sox Equal Success for Liverpool?

The Boston Red Sox won the World Series on Wednesday night at Fenway Park, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals and completing a remarkable turnaround for the franchise.

Having finished last in their division 12 months ago, the Red Sox completed biggest turnaround season in baseball history with the 4-2 series win.

The success was their third in 10 years, after a 86-year drought that ended two years after Fenway Sports Group purchased the franchise in 2002.

The similarities between FSG's two sporting assets are numerous, and Liverpool fans will be hoping that John Henry and his group can recreate their success on the other side of the Atlantic.

The simplest similarity is that of the respective stadiums—Anfield and Fenway Park—both steeped in history, both in desperate need of enhancement when the owners arrived. Liverpool are to follow a similar path of redevelopment at Anfield once the complicated purchase of homes around the stadium will allow.

There's also similarities between the two cities itself; both port cities, working-class, a passionate sporting fanbase and world-renowned for their culture and heritage.

“A number of parallels emerged with the situation that existed in Boston when we arrived," explained Henry, as quoted by The Tomkins Times.

There are sceptics, mostly due to the actions of previous American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who will not accept that FSG are anything other than seeking for financial gain from Liverpool. But this is not the case; John Henry and FSG are about winning and sustainability.

Henry recently purchased The Boston Globe, when explaining his reasons for doing so, he wrote in the newspaper's opinion page:

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When we acquired the Red Sox, profit was literally at the bottom of our list of goals. We were determined to do whatever it took to win.

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It's that same desire to win that is his priority at Liverpool too. To return the club to Europe's elite.

The stadium is issue is what currently not entirely in FSG's hands, while recent history has shown that when Henry is involved, it results in a positive income for LFC—the Luis Suarez saga being the prime example here.

Ever since the purchase of Liverpool in 2010, Red Sox supporters have questioned whether money from their team will be used to fund the other, and vice versa. Some Liverpool supporters have pondered whether a Red Sox victory will equal more money for Liverpool. The answer is, it won't.

As explained by Henry in an extensive story on WEEI.com:

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Fenway Sports Group expansion has never and will never take place at the expense of the Boston Red Sox.

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So ultimately, the Red Sox winning the World Series will not directly reflect upon Liverpool.

What it does show is that FSG have a proven track record in sports and that they can set out a blueprint for success, just as they are doing currently at Anfield.