The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Late double puts Liverpool top
PREMIER LEAGUE: Mourinho’s United now 19 points behind Klopp’s table-toppers
LIVERPOOL 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Under-pressure Jose Mourinho remains confident that Manchester United will finish in the top four of the Premier League, despite a chastening loss at bitter rivals Liverpool that leaves them 11 points off the pace.
A difficult season for the Old Trafford giants continued on Sunday as they deservedly lost to the leaders in a onesided encounter at Anfield.
United were level at half-time after Alisson Becker’s blunder saw Jesse Lingard cancel out Sadio Mane’s opener, but Liverpool’s pressure eventually counted as substitute Xherdan Shaqiri’s deflected brace secured a 3-1 win.
It leaves Jurgen Klopp’s men an eyewatering 19 points ahead of United after just 17 matches, but the 11-point 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. Honest people, they gave absolutely everything.”
Liverpool manager Klopp is paying no attention to what title-rivals Manchester City are doing as his side hit back in the ding-dong battle at the top of the table.
The Reds have a chance to extend their one-point advantage further as they play Wolves on Friday night but Klopp is focusing on what his side do and not what their rivals are up to.
“We know the table, just are you focused on it or not. We played tonight against Man Utd and not Man Utd and City. When we eat and train together we are not saying ‘Did you see what City did?’.
“We are focused on what we need to do and will there come a moment in the season where we are still around them and we start hoping they drop points or whatever.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl enjoyed a dream home debut as Southampton manager after Charlie Austin’s late header earned a 3-2 win over in-form Arsenal.
Substitute Austin seized on a mistake by Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno with five minutes remaining to give the Austrian a perfect start to his reign at St Mary’s.
Eden Hazard masterminded Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League win at Brighton, teeing up Pedro before netting himself at the Amex Stadium. Solly March’s neat half-volley set up a tense finish.