Mourinho defends tactics

LIVERPOOL. — Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp pointed the finger of blame at each other after their teams’ much-anticipated showdown ended in a forgettable 0-0 draw.

Having averaged 3.2 goals per game prior to Saturday’s game, United changed tack for the trip to Anfield, producing an extremely cautious display that moved Klopp to assert the visitors had played for a point.

United’s approach was in stark contrast to that of Manchester City, who routed Stoke City 7-2 to go two points clear of their title rivals at the English Premier League summit, but Mourinho said Klopp had been jointly responsible.

“I was waiting for Jurgen to change,” the United manager told reporters.

“I was waiting for him to go more attacking, but he kept the three strong midfielders all the time where he was having control because I only had (Ander) Herrera and Matic.

“When I brought on (Jesse) Lingard and (Marcus) Rashford, I was waiting for him to give me more space to counter, but he didn’t give me that.”

Seeking to ward off accusations his team had played with undue conservatism, Mourinho suggested Klopp should have been more proactive and paid him a backhanded compliment by praising Liverpool’s defensive organisation.

“I know that probably you think we were defensive and they were offensive,” he said.

“Well, you were at home and you don’t move anything? I don’t know. I was waiting for that. He didn’t.”