Manchester United cannot afford to drop any more points as they entertain Southampton on Saturday evening.
The Red Devils go into the encounter 15 points adrift of rivals City following their 2-2 draw with Burnley on Boxing Day.
It could have been so much worse for United, who were rescued by Jesse Lingard's double.
They are back at Old Trafford on Saturday before making the trip to Everton on New Year's Day.
We will have team news and much more from the United boss when he faces the press on Friday afternoon.
Follow updates from his press conference below.
Lukaku/Zlatan partnership?
More on Van Dijk
The reality is that if they think that the player is the right player for them and they really want the player they pay his amount or they don’t have the player because that is the way the market is at that time.
So when we compare now the amount of money certain managers and clubs spend, to try to compare that, I am not saying even 10 years ago, but even three years ago, is to compare the impossible. You cannot compare the realities.
Van Dijk is the most expensive defender in history of football, was he better than Paolo Maldini, Giuseppe Bergomi or Rio Ferdinand?
You cannot say that, it’s just the way the market is, and you pay or you don’t pay. If you pay, obviously you pay a crazy amount of money, but if you don’t, you don’t have the player.
It’s as simple as that, so no critics at all about what Liverpool did, it’s just the way it is.
Mourinho on Van Dijk deal
Jose Mourinho has accused Jurgen Klopp of hypocrisy after the Liverpool boss spent a world record £75million for a defender to sign Virgin van Dijk.
Klopp scoffed at the huge fees spent by many Premier League clubs, with United having spent a then world record £89m on signing Paul Pogba from Juventus in the summer of 2016.
But the Liverpool boss has joined the trend of managers paying exorbitant fees for players with the capture of Van Dijk from Southampton, with Mourinho warning his rival of his former stance.
I think the one’s that speak about it in a specific way has to be Jurgen.
And if I was one of you I would ask him about his comments about one year ago.
But not speaking specifically about that case, because in Liverpool they do what they want to do, and I am nobody to comment on what they do.
More on Lukaku
But if you are a central defender, a holding midfield player, where you can control you’re energy, positional play, you can resist and survive.
But for a striker to play 20 matches in the Premier League, 90 minutes, I have to be grateful. Is he unlucky in our box in recent matches?
He was in the picture. It was not a direct influence on just him, but he was in the picture in some of the last goals we conceded, but it’s a consequence of a player that really needs a little rest.
But the guy is fantastic for me and for the team and gives absolutely everything and I’ve no critics.
Mourinho on Lukaku
Jose Mourinho said Romelu Lukaku’s form has suffered because he is exhausted – but claimed he cannot afford to rest him.
Lukaku, a £75million summer signing from Everton, has scored just four in his last 19 games in all competitions, having started the season with 11 in 10.
Manchester United boss Mourinho admitted the forward is tired, but claimed he is unable to rest him because he does not have alternative options up front.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still way short of match fitness and sharpness after a seven-month injury lay-off, while Mourinho does not trust Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial there.
Asked if he was able to rest Lukaku, Mourinho said:
No I can’t. The boy is tired. He’s physically a monster, but not a machine, and he’s feeling it.
First of all, people doesn’t have to be grateful to Romelu, I have to be, not you, not the supporters, not the pundits.
I have to be, and the other day I said 19 matches in the Premier League, now I say 20 matches in the Premier League, playing 90 minutes, I think for a striker, any player, he’s absolutely incredible.
Mourinho is in the house
Here is Jose!
Stay tuned for updates.
No go for Griezmann
Atletico Madrid insist they will not let Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann leave in January.
The Frenchman was linked with United in the summer, with Barcelona also registering an interest.
But Atletico chief Miguel Angel Gil Marin has ruled out a January exit - and suggested another new deal may be on the cards.
“It is impossible that he will leave this team before the summer,” he told Spanish TV channel Mega.
“Last summer we made a great effort well beyond the club’s possibilities and we will do it once again next summer.”
Greetings
Jose Mourinho is afraid that Romelu Lukaku has put on too much muscle and that’s the reason why he’s slowed down in recent months.
After a blistering start, which saw United’s £75million signing score 11 goals in 10 games, Lukaku has gone off the boil and found the back of the net just four times in 19 appearances.
According to The Sun , the 24-year-old has put on almost half a stone since joining in the summer, and Mourinho has expressed his concern.
Club doctors have assured the United boss that the added weight is muscle and not fat.
However, Mourinho is afraid that the added bulk is slowing his star striker down.
With United 15 points behind rivals and league leaders Manchester City, the Portuguese will desperate for his star man to get back firing on all cylinders.
The report adds that Lukaku has already come under scrutiny from his boss this season for dropping too deep in matches.