Mourinho gives praise to his big Reds rival
Jose Mourinho complained afterwards that Jurgen Klopp didn’t give Manchester United the opportunity to snatch all three points at Anfield.
The Portuguese also admitted that Liverpool’s midfield was just too strong for his own, which was missing Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini.
“The second half was a bit of chess, but my opponent didn’t open the door for me to win the game,” he said.
“I felt my team was waiting for me to do something, but I couldn’t do anything with no midfield player on the bench.
“I was waiting for Jurgen to change and go more attacking, but he kept the same three strong players in midfield where he had control.
“Today his midfield was stronger than mine and I had no one to make a difference.
“When you’re at home and you don’t move anything, it’s strange.
“They played 90 minutes with the same midfield and I thought playing at home, seven points behind us, they are going to change. They never did.
“But I honestly think he did well because he didn’t let the game break up.
“I am not criticising. It was good pressing and a very good team performance from him from a defensive point of view.
“The only chance I had to change the direction of the game was to bring on quicker players to go one against one.
“When they changed they changed man-for-man in attack. They kept their three midfield players in the centre of the pitch and I had no chance to answer.
“I need to play against Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum with power and energy. I had no power and energy.
“I only had two midfield players and had no one else to compensate that.
“I don’t like to speak about it and it’s unfair on Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic, because they gave everything, but I was feeling for players I didn’t have.
“I had no chance to bring the game in another direction so I think it is a positive point for us.”