The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Case for defence
tomorrow. Despite sixth-placed United being 16 points behind, Klopp knows better than to write-off Jose Mourinho’s side, despite all the criticism being levelled at the Portuguese.
“I was never interested in the points of Manchester United and I am not today,” he said.
“I am aware of the criticism and stuff but when we analyse them and switch off the sound, there is a lot of quality.”
Mourinho insisted foundations rather than fixtures and fittings are what United need to focus on to get their house in order.
Asked how far away United are from being a team in their manager’s image, Mourinho said: “Far.”
Comparing the health of the two clubs to a house, he said: “It’s not just about the money they spent in the summer, it’s about many things. A football team is more than that. A football team is a little bit like a house.
“A house is not just about buying new furniture, you have to do work in the house and when the house is ready, then you buy the furniture, you spend money on the best possible furniture and then you are ready to live in an amazing house.”
Mourinho is not being helped by worsening injury problems, with nine players either doubtful or ruled out of tomorrow’s clash.
Among those are six defenders – Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof – while Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay are also doubts and Alexis Sanchez definitely sidelined.
Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne could both return to action as champions Manchester City face Everton this weekend.
Aguero, City’s record scorer, has missed the last four games with a groin injury while playmaker De Bruyne has been troubled by knee injuries all season.
Striker Alvaro Morata is a doubt with a knee injury when Chelsea play at Brighton tomorrow
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Antonio Rudiger, Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and N’Golo Kante are poised to return to the starting line-up after being rested for Thursday’s Europa League tie.