Brendan Rodgers has sprung to the defence of Cardiff City's Malky Mackay, accusing the club's owner, Vincent Tan, of "knowing nothing about football".

The Bluebirds visit Anfield on Saturday after a week in which there has been a public fall out between Mackay and Tan over transfers, leading to more speculation over the manager's future.

Their first season in the Premier League has seen further off-field strife with the sacking as head of recruitment of Iain Moody, who was replaced by a friend of Tan's son who has no football background. Rodgers finds it unbelievable that the situation has been allowed to develop as it has.

"I find it incredible all the talk about Malky, who I know well from working with him at Watford," the Liverpool manager, formerly in charge at Swansea, said. "I find it astonishing what he has had to go through. This is a guy [Tan] who walked into Cardiff after they had lost in the play-off semi-finals and they waited two weeks to sack the manager Dave Jones on the day we [Swansea] were in the final – which I found strange.

"Malky walked into the club with 10 players that summer and he totally transformed the mentality of the club. He took them to the Carling Cup final, to a play-off place and just lost out and the following season took them to the championship and promotion.

"He has had great results this season and is going to go on and be a great manager at a big club and I find it absolutely astonishing there is talk about him leaving there.

"I worked with Iain Moody at Watford, one of the most authentic people you could ever meet. My only conclusion is you have a business guy operating the club who knows absolutely nothing about football. He has obviously been a successful businessman – congratulations but football is like no other business.

"When I see what Malky has had to put up with, to see him being questioned I find it remarkable. Especially when supporters there look up to him and respect him for what he's done."