Mou seeks United improvement
Klopp backs Origi to shine in Coutinho absence
LIVERPOOL, Dec 3, (AFP): Jose Mourinho returns to the technical area for Sunday’s visit to Everton on a mission to urgently improve Manchester United’s disappointing Premier League form. Mourinho served his second one-match touchline ban of the season on Wednesday as United beat West Ham 4-1 in the League Cup to set up a two-legged semi-final against Hull in January.
Success in knockout football, as Mourinho’s predecessor Louis van Gaal discovered after winning last season’s FA Cup, is not necessarily considered adequate at Old Trafford, though.
The statistics do not look good for Mourinho at present as their total of 20 points is their lowest at this stage of a season since 1989.
United have managed just two victories in their last 10 Premier League matches, and have just failed to win four home league games in a row for the first time since 1990.
Last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to West Ham provided more headaches, which the cup victory over the same opponents three days later eased only partially.
United have been scoring freely in cup competitions, beating Feyenoord 4-0 in the Europa League within the last fortnight in addition to scoring four against West Ham.
It has been a different story in the league and Mourinho could do with a dominant display at Goodison Park to silence the critics. “I am always expecting us to score goals, especially as we are playing so well,” Mourinho said.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Divock Origi is primed to help fill the vast attacking void left by Philippe Coutinho’s absence through injury.
Liverpool will be without the influential Brazilian playmaker for about six weeks with the ankle injury he sustained in the win over Sunderland last weekend that kept them firmly in the early title race.
Klopp and Liverpool are also missing England striker Daniel Sturridge as he continues to struggle with a calf injury, which means Bel- gium international Origi will lead the line in their Premier League clash at Bournemouth on Sunday.
After spending most of the season on the substitutes’ bench, Origi is set for his first sustained run in the starting line-up, but Klopp has no concerns about his ability to step up.
“Divock is still 21 and he hasn’t had the most match time in the last few months, so then he had no rhythm, but he is always working, never moaning,” Klopp said.
“I was really happy for him having this opportunity and being in the shape to use it. It was really nice to see.
“Timing is really important. You don’t always have influence on timing, but in this case it worked out really well because it was exactly one or two weeks since Divock was back in shape, in the race.