How Mourinho can stifle Anfield threat

The best way to prevent an embarrassing scoreline against Liverpool is to sit deep, frustrate, contain and attack on the counter.

A defence weakened by injury will need protection throughout. Mourinho has recently returned to a shape similar to the 4-4-2 diamond he used at Porto, and if used tomorrow, Ander Herrera, Marouane

Fellaini and Nemanja Matic will be busy bees. They must form a block in front of the back four to close the half-spaces Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah can exploit, while Matic (right) must be aware of Roberto Firmino’s wandering from No9. Rashford’s direct running is United’s best chance of breaking Liverpool lines. Romelu Lukaku must be ready to hold up high balls played over the Liverpool press and United’s defence must stay deep throughout to avoid being caught out. To stop United’s shape being stretched vertically (defenders too far from the strikers and a gaping hole in midfield), the team have to move as a unit. How far up the pitch they go depends on how brave players feel. Mourinho is a master of destroying creative play and will no doubt summon all manner of dark arts to try to secure a result. Style matters little to him as long as his team win – trophies are what counts and he has won a few.