Man Utd news LIVE updates: £50m Rose swoop, Lukaku warning, Mourinho targets left-back

MANCHESTER UNITED news is coming thick and fast and Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest gossip from Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho: The three at the back tactic is wrong

MAN UTD NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Follow below for the latest news and gossip from Old Trafford…

Saturday October 14

Neville blasts United

18.10: Manchester United have to learn to win away from home against the bigger teams if they are to have any hope of winning the title, says Gary Neville.

“It needs to (change). If you’re going to win the league they’ll have to be better than that away from home in the big games,” Neville told Sky Sports.

“They’ll have to, they’ll have to make sure they counter attack better. 

“The defending part is very good, the resilience, the strength, the defending, the goalkeeper. 

“But you then have to go and score the goals away from home."

Rashford and Bailly absences explained

12:55: Jose Mourinho has explained why Marcus Rashford and Eric Bailly are not playing against Liverpool.

"I don’t think we have many options," he told Sky Sports.

"Fellaini was injured with the national team, Bailly was injured with the national team and Rashford was injured with the national team. We don’t have many options.

"I never complain about that. I was just mentioning it to you because the next question is maybe why is Rashford not playing? Why is Bailly not even on the bench? But, okay, since the moment we know the players we have available, we thought about the match and we thought about our options and we made these decisions."

Cole talks Zlatan return

08:40: Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return from injury in the new year, according to Andy Cole.

"He’s doing really good Back next year, I think, so he’s done well really," Cole told The Sun.

"He’ll get games because he’s got so much quality. And he’s brilliant in the dressing room.

"I love Zlatan. He tells you how it is. He’s legendary."

Martin release clause

04:30: Jose Mourinho is reportedly prepared to activate Aaron Martin's release clause at Espanyol, but they face competition from Barcelona.

United sent scouts to watch Martin at the start of the season with the transfer window still open to run the rule over the left-back.

Mourinho was keen to bolster his options on the left side of his defence with Luke Shaw still hampered with injury problems.

And El Gol Digital claim the Red Devils will reignite their interest and are willing to meet the £27million release clause in Martin’s contract.

Lukaku warning

03:30: Romelu Lukaku will face his biggest test in a Manchester United shirt this afternoon against Liverpool.

Last season, 21 of his 25 league goals came against the bottom 13 teams, with pundits and former players alike questioning whether he could perform against the so-called big teams.

And Merson wants to see whether Lukaku can prove his critics wrong when United take on Liverpool later today.

“This is a game when Romelu Lukaku should go and prove all the doubters wrong, all those people saying he can’t do it in big games against big teams,” Merson told the Daily Star.

“He scores a lot of nothing goals for me. Harry Kane scores big goals. Lukaku scores a lot of late goals in matches United have already won. It’s padding your total. Go and win your team the game.”

Jose Mourinho is reportedly prepapred to meet Aaron Martin's release clauseGETTY

Jose Mourinho is reportedly prepapred to meet Aaron Martin's release clause

Friday October 13

Battle Real for Kane

21.10: Manchester United will block any attempt by Real Madrid to sign Tottenham striker Harry Kane, according to reports in Spain.

Spanish outlet Don Balon claim the 24-year-old is one of Real president Florentino Perez’s top targets as he looks to replace Karim Benzema.

But United will reportedly not let Real have a clear shot at the striker and will challenge them for his signature this summer.

The report says they are willing to pay around £170million to prevent him making the move to Spain.

Klopp's going nowehere

20.00: Jurgen Klopp has dismissed claims he will be sacked if Liverpool lose to Manchester United, claiming they would struggle to find a better replacement.

“If I would come in today as a new manager, and this would be the situation, and everyone gave us time and said do the next step, that would be perfect,” Klopp said.

“Unfortunately if they sack me now I don’t think there are a lot of managers who would do the job better than I do.

“I don’t think I’m perfect but it’s quite difficult to find better options on this.

“So I still think as long as 98 per cent of our Liverpool audience think we are on the right lines, we will succeed.”

Pellegri's the new Zlatan

17.35: Manchester United target Pietro Pellegri has been likened to Zlatan Ibrahimovic by his agent Giuseppe Riso.

“We are talking about a very powerful striker,” Riso told French outlet FooptMercato.

“Let’s just say he has the characteristics of a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“He’s not just a revelation in Italy, but one of the best young European players. Don’t forget, at the age of 16, he bagged a brace against Lazio.

“It’s not surprising he has been linked with PSG, as many big European clubs are tracking him.”

Liverpool defend like kids - Merson

16.35: Manchester United will beat Liverpool tomorrow because the Reds’ defending is worse than that of 14 year olds, according to pundit Paul Merson.

Merson says the goal Liverpool conceded in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle two weeks ago would have seen 14-year-old hopefuls rejected by scouts.

“What happened to the two centre-halves two weeks ago, if two 14-year-old kids did that, on trial, they wouldn’t get called back,” he said on Sky Sports.

“How good they are it wouldn’t have mattered, so that’s why I’ve got to to Man United (to win).”

Rom licking lips

13.30: Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku will be looking forward to going head-to-head with Liverpool’s defence tomorrow, says pundit Jamie Redknapp.

Redknapp thinks if United turn up to attack Liverpool, they can exploit a huge weakness they have.

"If I were Man United and I was Romelu Lukaku, I’d be licking my lips at playing against that Liverpool back four,” he said on Sky Sports.

“They are there for the taking, they are making mistakes, and Jurgen Klopp knows it. 

“He knows they have a huge weakness there and I think it is there for Man United to exploit if they want to.”

United to win on counter

12.35: Manchester United will sit back, hit Liverpool on the counter attack and come away with all three points from Anfield tomorrow, says Danny Higginbotham.

Higginbotham is expecting a tight encounter but says Liverpool’s inability to keep a clean sheet will cost them.

“I think it will be quite a close game,” he said.

“I think we will see Liverpool doing all the running. 

“I think Manchester United, as we said before, I think they’ll be happy to sit back and play on the counter attack. I can’t see Liverpool keeping a clean sheet. 

“I fancy Manchester United to win this game on the counter attack, turn defence into attack really quickly and getting the win.”

Jose happy with draw - Redknapp

12.10: Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will both be happy with a draw at Anfield tomorrow, says Jamie Redknapp.

Redknapp feels with both sides having players missing through injury, a draw would suit the managers.

“If you offered Jose Mourinho a draw now, would he take it? Absolutely,” he said on Sky Sports.

“Absolutely he would. You might actually get the same answer from Jurgen Klopp because he’s under pressure. 

“He knows he needs to get a result.”

Rashford or Martial?

11:21: Both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are battling for a starting spot for Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool tomorrow.

United supporters are divided over who should start so we've crunched the numbers to help you decide.

Rashford

Apps: 11

Mins played: 613

Goals: 5 

Assists: 4

Mins/goal or assist: 68

Martial:

Apps: 9

Mins played: 370

Goals: 5

Assists: 5

Mins/goal or assist 37

Jose won't sit back - Silvestre

10.00: Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho will not be parking the bus against Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow, says Mikael Silvestre.

Having won six of their first seven league games this term, sitting level on points with Manchester City at the top, Silvestre cannot see his old side sitting back.

"The goals we flowing so it looks like the team balance and consistency is better than last season,” he told talkSPORT.

“So we could see maybe a United side more open, willing to score goals, than at Anfield last season.”

Liverpool are our main rivals - Juan Mata

08.14: Juan Mata has claimed that Manchester United’s main rivals are Liverpool.

The Spaniard has put the Reds above the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Mata is expected to start for Jose Mourinho’s side at Anfield tomorrow, after scoring his first goal of the season in the last league outing against Crystal Palace.

"There is no game like this,” Mata told Sky Sports. 

“Through the history there have been great games, big rivalries, and it is a special game to play in, and we feel very lucky to have the chance to play in these games.

“Since I came here I always knew the rivalry was big over the years. 

“Everyone in the training ground, fans in the street, they remind you that Liverpool is the game.”

Juan MataGETTY

Juan Mata has recorded three goals and five assists against Liverpool

Marouane Fellaini praise

06:00: Andy Cole has reserved praise for Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini, but expressed his sympathy for Ander Herrera too.

After Paul Pogba got injured last month in the 3-0 Champions League win over Basel, Fellaini has filled in superbly in the absence.

Two goals in the 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace at Old Trafford before the international break illustrated this and he has been a calming presence in the heart of midfield, however is unavailable for the game against Liverpool tomorrow (12.30pm) due to injury.

Herrera, meanwhile, has struggled to get a look-in under Jose Mourinho this season despite his fabulous form last term.

And Cole thinks Fellaini has been playing well, because he has the trust of Jose Mourinho.

“He’s had a great start this season,” Cole told The Sun. 

“You need someone who believes in you and the manager does.

£50m Danny Rose swoop

05:15: Manchester United are reportedly ready to intensify their interest in Tottenham star Danny Rose by readying a £50million bid.

The 27-year-old has been linked with a move to United as well as Chelsea, with both keen to significantly strengthen in that department.

Recent reports suggested Rose would snub a move to the Blues to join the Red Devils and Jose Mourinho is confident of a deal.

And The Sun claim United are preparing a £50m move in January, as they seek to make a statement signing.

The report explains Rose has been left out of Tottenham’s official 2018 calendar, which could indicate a transfer may be on the cards.

The Sun also claim United’s move for Rose could depend on Spurs’ situation in the Champions League.

If the north London outfit qualify for the knockout stages of the competition, United could shelve their interest until the summer.

Manchester United star Henrikh MkhitaryanGETTY

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been a regular for Manchester United this season

He won’t like it at all. He prides himself on being the best and he pits himself against the best

Phil Neville

Henrikh Mkhitaryan grateful to Jurgen Klopp

04:45: Henrikh Mkhitaryan has revealed how Jurgen Klopp saved him when he joined Borussia Dortmund.

Mkhitaryan worked with Klopp when he joined Dortmund in 2013 in a £25.5million move from Shakhtar Donetsk.

He will line up against Klopp’s men when United travel to face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday (12.30pm).

And Mkhitaryan has revealed he is thankful to Klopp for buying him as well as making him the player he is today.

“I am thankful to Klopp. He worked on my personality and the psychological part,” Mkhitaryan told German magazine 11 Freunde.

“Klopp showed me the way. He supported me and told me I had to keep my head up because good things were coming.”

Tottenham star Danny RoseGETTY

Danny Rose is on Manchester United's radar

Jose Mourinho irritated by Klopp record

04:15: Jose Mourinho will be annoyed that Jurgen Klopp has the better head-to-head record against him.

Mourinho and Klopp have faced each other seven times, and Klopp has only been on the losing side once with spells spanning across Dortmund and Liverpool.

Klopp’s men welcome United to Anfield tomorrow (12.30pm) and the German tactician will be eager to close the gap on United, who are seven points clear of them at the top of the Premier League table.

And while Mourinho has often come out second best, Neville thinks he will be desperate to get some revenge.

“He won’t like it at all. He prides himself on being the best and he pits himself against the best,” Neville told Sky Sports’ The Debate Show.

“Klopp is renowned as one of the world’s best coaches.”

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