Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has criticised Liverpool for being too cautious in a dour goalless draw played at Anfield on Monday.
United’s defensive tactics saw them have just 35 percent of possession, their lowest total in the Premier League since Opta started collecting data in 2003.
Nevertheless, despite managing just one shot on target and winning only one corner, Mourinho claimed Reds counterpart Jurgen Klopp should be the one under the spotlight.
“Last season United won here. Liverpool had 14 shots on target and United had one,” said the Portuguese.
“How many shots on target did Liverpool have on target today? Two [official statistics actually recorded three].
“Two shots on target with 65 percent of possession. You have to be critical of Liverpool. It is their problem, not our problem.
“I think it was a good performance. It was a difficult match for us and for them and I think we controlled the game tactically and emotionally and it is not easy to do both things here.
Jose Mourinho’s side conceded the great majority of possession to Liverpool on the night.
“The result I think is acceptable. We wanted more. For long periods in the game we thought that could be possible but we didn’t score and, if you don’t score, you don’t win. But I think it was very positive performance.
“We stopped them playing, but they also did very well from the defensive point of view.
“They played [Emre] Can and [Jordan] Henderson for some reason and they did that for 90 minutes, so they normally project more players in attack.
“They were very cautious. They kept always Can and Henderson in position. They had only one player behind the three more offensive players.
“I think it was their intention to try and control us, which they also did well.”
Reacting to the outcome of the match, Klopp said “I am not too happy.
“The game from the first second was very hectic and maybe that was what Manchester United wanted and we didn’t want, maybe it was more for their advantage.
“That can happen from the start but you have to find your way back to the way we usually play.
“We lost patience far too early and our passing game was not good. We had 65% possession but we have to do better.
“I didn’t expect we would have 10-15 chances.
“Second half we had chances but De Gea was finally warm and he made brilliant saves.
“They had that chance with Ibrahimovic.
“The best news tonight is we have one point more and a clean sheet, nothing else.
“We can do much better and we must do much better.
“We have to stay cool.”
The result of the match leaves Liverpool at 4th position on the Premier League table with 17 points while United are 7th with 14 points.
