Reds to test Man U mettle
LONDON. — Jose Mourinho takes high-flying Manchester United to Liverpool for a searching test of their title credentials this weekend as the English Premier League returns with a bang after the international soccer break.
United are level with Manchester City at the top of the table on 19 points, trailing their neighbours on goal difference, but have not yet faced any of their major rivals.
Pep Guardiola’s free-scoring City, who have already beaten seventh-place Liverpool and defending champions Chelsea, host Stoke City, looking to add to an impressive haul of 22 goals so far.
Mourinho and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp must both juggle their resources for today’s early kick-off at Anfield following injuries to key players.
United are without midfielder Paul Pogba, who has been out of action for several weeks with a hamstring injury, and the muscular Marouane Fellaini is also missing.
It means a likely start for last year’s club player of the year Ander Herrera alongside Nemanja Matic.
For his part, Klopp, whose side trail United by seven points, has to do without forward Sadio Mane, who picked up a hamstring injury on international duty with Senegal.
“I think we are a better team (than we were last season),” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
“You can say, like some people do, we have not played one of the top five teams, but last season we did not beat West Ham at home, last season we did not beat Everton at home or Southampton away.”
Mourinho has also described Liverpool’s Anfield stadium as a “beautiful place” and insisted his Manchester United stars will relish playing in such an intense atmosphere today.
Former United players Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre spoke this week about the extraordinary hostility generated by their club’s visits to Anfield, and the tension that goes with it.
But United boss Mourinho insisted that, despite the long-standing history of animosity between the bitter rivals, his players should enjoy the opportunity to play in front of a packed Anfield crowd.