KLOPP HIS SORE POINT17 NURSING

Mourinho’s stifling tactics put pressure on Liverpool boss after one win in eight

JOSE did what Jose does. And Jose got what Jose wanted.

Neither historical precedents nor special occasions will move Mourinho from a preordained strategy.

The United manager’s sarcastic suggestion that he would start with nine forwards and just one defender at Anfield unsurprisingly did not happen

A point was what he needed and that was what he took home.

It was Jurgen Klopp, two years into his Liverpool tenure and facing questions after one win now in eight games, who had to show us what he has.

The onus was on him, or rather, that is how Mourinho wanted the game to be defined. And so that is largely how it played out.

Football’s oldest law says that it is easier to contain than create. Mourinho knows it. Perhaps not to the extent that his fiercest critics would contend.

Lest we forget his Real Madrid team were record goalscorers in La Liga and his Chelsea side magnificent at times.

But right now, he doesn’t need that show. The flair associated with the United of old can be saved for the festivals against the likes of West Ham, Swansea, Everton and Crystal Palace. Liverpool away, without Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini, apparently requires a different plan.

And, as Mourinho famously once claimed at this ground before, he’s not about to play the part of the clowns at the circus.

The hoopla and excitement of this fixture, you suspect, move him not a jot. His eye is on bigger prizes.

Not that we didn’t have all the ingredients of England’s most formidable football clash.

Crowds thronged outside from breakfast time in anticipation of something special.

Anfield roared for Kenny Dalglish in celebration of the stand newly named after him and the knot of United fans in the corner shouted defiance.

This remodelled stadium is now a fitting stage and at times that din was intoxicating.

Yet, frankly, the game itself, struggles to match the atmosphere, which is fast becoming the star of these ultimately disappointing shows.

Mourinho tried to argue that it was more a question of perception. ‘It depends what is for you an entertaining game,’ he said.

‘One thing is an entertaining game for fans and another thing is an entertaining game for people who read football in a different way.

‘For me, second half, was a bit like chess.

‘He (Klopp) was having control and I was waiting for him to bring Daniel Sturridge and Dominic Solanke but keep on his attacking players.

‘But he kept that strong midfield and that midfield was stronger than mine. I had Andrea Herrera and Nemanja Matic and I had no one else to make it different.

‘I know you probably think we were defensive and they were offensive. Well, you are at home and you don’t move anything? I was waiting for that.

‘I think he did well, honestly. Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford came on and were waiting for the game to be broken and the game was never broken.’

And as for the suggestion he lacked ambition? ‘That’s your idea; that’s your analysis.’

Klopp was as breezily optimistic as he can be in such situations.

‘The boys performed again,’ he said afterwards.

‘We protected our offensive situation perfectly against one of the best counter attacking teams in the world. (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan, if you don’t protect him, he runs from here and back to Manchester with the ball.

‘Was it perfect? Probably not or we would have won. We had the big chance and maybe should have had a penalty: 2-0. How big a result do you want against Manchester United?

‘They defended with nine men in and around the box. I don’t judge this but it makes our job a little more difficult.

‘Could we do better? Maybe, yes. But is it likely you do a lot better in this game? I don’t think.

‘For me, a team who can become champions were in our stadium today and it’s not a world apart from us. It’s not that we’re on different planets.’

But philosophically would he do what Mourinho had. ‘Oh, that’s nice question,’ said Klopp. ‘If I say: “No” people will say I don’t want to win anything; if I say “Yes” then people are afraid…’ he said before moving the conversation swiftly on.

The penalty he claimed was when Antonia Valencia felled Philippe Coutinho on 20 minutes.

He also suggested that Romelu Lukaku might have been sent off for a clash with Dejan Lovren. Both were optimistic judgments.

At times, Liverpool did threaten to break the stranglehold.

Principally there that moment on 36 minutes when Roberto Firmino produced a dummy which left Matic bewildered.

The Brazilian’s cross found Joel Matip six yards out: he shot and David de Gea saved brilliantly and instinctively while Mohamed Salah could only fire the rebound wastefully wide.

In such moments you could question whether Mourinho places too much faith in his own ability to contain and control a contest.

You always run that risk of being undone by a moment of genius. But those moments were few and far between.

United starting with Ashley Young at right wing rather than left-back was a clear indication of where the game was heading.

That said, United, with little more than a wayward Matic shot to show for their first half, still almost went into the break head.

Mkhitaryan played in Romelu Lukaku and the Belgian hit it first time, forcing a fine save from Simon Mignolet, on 43 minutes.

After the break, Mourinho’s strategy received a more thorough interrogation.

Firmino’s strike on 49 minutes set both the side netting and Liverpool’s heart fluttering; Joe Gomez lifted a ball into the box for Emre Can on 52 minutes which he directed high over the bar.

Salah was the breadth of stud away from connecting with a Firmino cross on 71 minutes.

By now Lingard and Rashford had joined the fray but more to reinforce the shape.

Liverpool introduced Daniel Sturridge and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain on 79 minutes but to no avail.

What had been preordained by Mourinho came to pass.

It wasn’t pretty but part of you couldn’t help but admire the predictability.