Mourinho confident on finish in top four

Under-pressure Jose Mourinho remains confident that Manchester United will finish in the top four of the Premier League, despite yesterday’s chastening loss at bitter rivals Liverpool leaving them 11 points off the pace.

It leaves Jurgen Klopp’s men an eye-watering 19 points ahead of United after just 17 matches, but the gap to the Champions League spots is arguably even more concerning.

Asked if he was confident of making up that margin, Mourinho said: “Yes, I think (we can). What gives me that belief? It gives me the belief that we are going to make much more points in the second part of the season than we did in the first part.

“I know we lost some other matches but we played away at Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City - probably the three best teams apart from Tottenham.

“But we play with them away. I think we have more possibility to get more points in the second part of the season than the first part.”

Mourinho’s side do have a kind-looking set of matches coming up but they desperately need to up their performance heading into the festive fixtures.

Too many players underperformed at Anfield, yet the United manager took the unusual step of shouldering the blame.

“I don’t think a football team is just a squad - it’s much more than the squad,” Mourinho said.

“I am really, really happy with the players that I had on the pitch, with their attitude, with their effort. I am more than happy.

“And because I am more than happy, I assume the responsibilities of the defeat and I want them to be hidden behind me. They gave absolutely everything.

“Eric Bailly knows he plays one minute before the game (because of Chris Smalling’s injury in the warm-up). (Victor) Lindelof trained one day to play, (Diogo) Dalot trained one day to play.

“(Matteo) Darmian trained one day to play, Ashley Young played with a sore ankle and I could go on, and on, and on.”