Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LIVERPOOL v MAN UNITED
Milan. A 96th minute winner in the Mersey derby after a mistake by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford was followed by an opening goal at Bournemouth which showed Mo
Salah offside.
Then, in the closing moments of the win or bust Champions League clash with Napoli last week, £66.8million goalkeeper Alisson blocked a shot that would have condemned Liverpool to the Europa League if it had gone in.
Says Mourinho: “Liverpool are very confident about themselves.
“They are top of the league, they have this feeling of – and I know that feeling well – the feeling of the “lucky ones” where everything goes in your direction.
“They know how they beat Everton, they know that the last match at Bournemouth the opening goal was offside, and they know that against Napoli in the last seconds they could be out.
“They have this feeling – that I also had when my teams were top of the league and it looks like everything goes in your direction.”
United are off the title pace with five draws and four defeats in 16 League games and struggling with defensive injuries but Mourinho has revealed he’ll be “happy” if red-hot favourites Liverpool take victory for granted.
“I think Liverpool are obviously very, very confident. But I think they are not stupid. I think they also know the match they have with us is difficult,” said the United boss.
“They also know that we have our weaknesses, our strengths, and I think they will respect our strengths.
“They know that they need every point if they want to be champions. “They know that we can go there and win.” CHRIS SMALLING has signed a new contract keeping him at Old Trafford until June 2022, with the option to extend for a further year.
The 29-year-old centre-back (above) joined from Fulham in a £10million deal in 2010 and has made 307 appearances for the club.
“This is my ninth season and I am delighted to be continuing my progression with this team,” he said.