Klopp fears Mourinho may park the bus again
JURGEN KLOPP has admitted it’s impossible to second-guess Jose Mourinho and that he may have to change Liverpool’s tactics during today’s game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Mourinho was criticised for betraying United’s traditions at Anfield in October when he parked the bus to secure a goalless draw. The expectation is United will be more adventurous this afternoon as they are on a ninematch winning run while Liverpool have not won in three attempts in 2017. But Klopp is wary and wouldn’t put it past his rival to surrender territorial advantage again even though United are at home.
In an interesting insight into the mind games between two top managers, Klopp said: ‘At home to United, we had to make the game even. We had to be dominant and they could defend and jump in between.
‘We can try the same if we need to but if it’s different, we’re ready. I have no idea what we have to do, actually. We’ll be ready for all. It could be that United will not be as organised as they were at Anfield but I am not so sure.
‘You can imagine a little how they will play but at the end it is always an open question. I am not part of their meetings.
‘Jose is a real competitor, so if he thinks defending deep makes sense, I would not be too surprised. My coaches and I have played Jose a few times and he is competitive, very very, but we are also. We’ll be as prepared as possible, try to find the right line-up and we need a bit of luck with refereeing decisions, which we haven’t had a lot.
‘The players have to deliver. I cannot change that. But to create the atmosphere where everybody believes in our chance, that’s pretty simple because I believe in them.’
Klopp could give Philippe Coutinho his first start since an ankle injury in November.