Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho angry after Romelu Lukaku was risked in Belgium's World Cup clash with Cyprus

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Jose Mourinho could not hide his anger at Roberto Martinez’s handling of Manchester United top scorer, Romelu Lukaku, in Belgium’s World Cup clash with Cyprus.

Martinez chose to bring Lukaku off the bench after 66 minutes on Tuesday night with Belgium already qualified for Russia and winning 3-0 — despite the striker having just recovered from an ankle injury. Lukaku made it 4-0 to the Belgians late on.

Mourinho said: ‘If he plays it’s because he has recovered.’

Romelu Lukaku featured against Cyprus for Belgium having recently recovered from injury

Jose Mourinho was angered by the treatment of his forward while on international duty 

He added sarcastically: ‘It’s a very important match for them — they need the match to qualify so I just wait.’

Another Belgian, Marouane Fellaini, returned to Carrington with knee ligament damage and will miss the clash at Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime.

Mourinho said: ‘We may cry with the process that leads to injuries but we do not cry because of injuries.’

Lukaku's team-mate for club and country Marouane Fellaini will miss their clash with Liverpool

Victory against Liverpool, who are without Sadio Mane after the forward was injured playing for Senegal, would mean United’s best ever start to a Premier League season. And Mourinho believes his side are better equipped this season. ‘At Anfield I’ve had great moments and I’ve had bad moments,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘They have had happiness against me, they have had very sad moments against me. If they respect me as much as I respect them, we are going to have another one of those matches.

‘I think we are a better team now. Does that mean we are going to be as successful as last season, winning two titles? I don’t know. But we are better.’