Reds in perfect response ahead of semi-final

Smalling, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba were retained from the woeful weekend performance and midfield duo Herrera and Pogba’s second-half withdrawals appeared to indicate they were being saved for the Wembley encounter with Spurs on Saturday.

Matic came on for Pogba but Valencia was not named in the matchday squad.

Mourinho said prior to the Bournemouth match that anyone who played ‘phenomenal’ would earn a place against Tottenham.

The Portuguese felt none of the starters reached that level but was pleased with a number of individual displays.

“I wouldn’t say phenomenal, but I think all of them played well,” Mourinho said.

“All of them, they told me they want to play, obviously I’m not going to change the team, I’m not going to repeat this team, I gave a rest to Matic, I gave a rest to Antonio Valencia, at least with the objective of at least having a couple of players fresh but all the others, they told me they are here, they want.”

“I think good collective performance based on good individual performances,” Mourinho added.

“And good individual performances based on a great attitude, a good determination, good responsibility, good desire to win the game and to be very close to be the first objective, which is to finish top four.

Match report and reaction: Pages 61-63