Mourinho plays down Anfield collision

The Red Devils make the journey to Anfield on Monday night to face Jurgen Klopp’s in-form Liverpool.

After a bright start saw Man United win their opening three league games under Mourinho, they have laboured recently in taking just four points from four games.

They were held at home by winless Stoke last time out, increasing the pressure on the Portuguese ahead of what looks sure to be powder-keg clash on Merseyside.

The season is about many points to win, points to lose and targets to achieve.

Jose Mourinho

Mourinho was quick to play down the game in his pre-match press conference, insisting the season will not hinge only on the two games against Liverpool.

“The season is not about the Anfield match and the Old Trafford match in January; the season is about many points to win, points to lose and targets to achieve,” said Mourinho.

Manchester United are 5/2 to win at Anfield, with Liverpool priced at 6/5 and the draw5/2.

Mourinho has plenty experience of the atmospheric Merseyside venue in the past and he admits his record there has been up and down.

Leading out Manchester United in what is traditionally one of English football’s most bitter rivalries will be something unique and the 53-year-old says he is looking forward to it.

“I always like to play at Anfield,” Mourinho said. “I’ve won big matches and lost big matches there, so I cannot say I like to go there as I am always successful as this is not true.

“I like the atmosphere and the characteristics of the matches. It is a big match that can be comparable to Inter v Milan and Real v Barcelona, maybe Porto v Benfica – this I like.”

Mourinho’s predecessor Louis van Gaal enjoyed a strong record against Liverpool, winning all four league meetings with the Anfield outfit.

The most recent of those came in January when Wayne Rooney scored the only goal on Merseyside. Man United are 12/1 to win 1-0 on Monday.