Jose Mourinho ready for Manchester United to park the bus at Anfield against Liverpool as he jokes: 'I play with one defender and nine strikers'

  • Jose Mourinho was criticised for his side's negative tactics in this game last year
  • But he seems willing to adopt the same style of play in Saturday's encounter
  • He joked when asked whether he would park the bus at Anfield again
  • Mourinho was not happy at suggestions his team had only beaten easy sides
  • Liverpool vs United betting tips and odds plus Kane in a 22/1 double 

Jose Mourinho is ready to park the bus at Anfield again on Saturday after mocking suggestions that Manchester United will be more adventurous against Liverpool.

Mourinho was criticised for his negative tactics when United stifled Jurgen Klopp's side in a drab goalless draw on Merseyside a year ago.

And it appears as though the Old Trafford boss is set to adopt a safety-first policy again judging by his light-hearted response when asked if United will have a different approach this time.

Jose Mourinho suggested his side would play with 'one defender and nine strikers' at Anfield

'I play with one defender and nine strikers, don't worry about it,' said Mourinho, whose team have scored four goals in six of their 10 games this season.


'We play with one guy behind and then we go with a new system and we play with nine strikers, don't worry about it.'

United are facing one of their title rivals for the first time after a relatively straightforward start to the season, but Mourinho believes it is insulting to their opponents so far – West Ham, Swansea, Leicester, Stoke, Everton, Southampton and Crystal Palace – to suggest they have only had easy games.

He added: 'It's disrespectful to the opposition, not us. For the opposition it's not nice. 

Mourinho is ready to park the bus when Manchester United visit Anfield on Saturday

Mourinho is ready to park the bus when Manchester United visit Anfield on Saturday

'I think everybody knows we don't need to hide there are better teams than others, and at the end of the season you have the proof of that – the champion, runner-up, third and fourth. 

'I don't think these teams that aren't going to be champion or top-four mind if everybody says that.

'But to say they're easy matches to win is a bit aggressive to them. The only thing I say is that we dropped points last season in many matches that you consider that you win before you start to play. 

'You win in the tunnel because you wear a certain shirt, and we lost many of these points. This season we lost two points against Stoke but we managed to get points in the other matches.' 

He pointed out the two dropped points against Stoke to highlight the strength of the league

He pointed out the two dropped points against Stoke to highlight the strength of the league