Jose calls out Reds crocks Phil, Chris

PHIL JONES and Chris Smalling were again urged by Jose Mourinho to overcome fitness concerns and return to his injury-hit Manchester United side after they moved one point off the top four.

A United side missing defensive duo Jones and Smalling, as well as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo, defeated Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor as first-half goals from Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney extended their unbeaten run to 23 Premier League games.

United, still in the Europa League, will now enter Thursday’s derby with fourth-placed Manchester City a point behind their neighbours.

But the accumulation of fixtures comes at a cost, with Paul Pogba a concern for that match after he came off late on.

With his options decreasing, Mourinho had last week implored Jones and Smalling “to be brave” and take a risk on their respective foot and knee problems, and he insisted Eric Bailly’s continued presence in his team should inspire them to return for the collective.

“He (Bailly) is incredible. If I was Smalling or Jones, I’d play Thursday, with anything, I would,” Mourinho said. “I wouldn’t accept one guy to play nine matches in a row as I am injured. I would do a last push.

“If they have a crazy mentality like I have, they would (play on Thursday). If they are safe thinking and they are surrounded by people with the same mentality they have, it is more time, more cautious. Nobody would stop me playing.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told his side to finish the job as his third-placed side lost 2-1 against Crystal Palace with Reds’ old boy Christian Benteke coming back to haunt his former club at Anfield.

Benteke dented their Champions League hopes as he scored in either half as Sam Allardyce’s Eagles hit back after Liverpool took the lead through Philippe Coutinho’s fine free-kick.

“We dominated,” Klopp said. “But could not finalise it.”