Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 6y

Jose Mourinho: Liverpool's defensive approach stopped Man United

Jose Mourinho has said Jurgen Klopp played a part in ensuring a second straight goalless draw between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield.

Klopp said afterwards Mourinho "had wanted a point" while insisting his team "had wanted three points."

In a repeat of the last season's fixture, United could only manage one shot on target, although that was a good chance that fell to Romelu Lukaku.

Former United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said Liverpool's ambition to win the game had been "measured."

Mourinho went a step further and questioned why Klopp had not shown the adventure to replace one of his three central midfield players with another attacker despite United fielding just two in Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera because of injuries to Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick

Mourinho told Sky Sports: "In the first half, while we had energy in our midfield, we were very much in control. We had no problems and they had one chance. Apart from that we had total control.

"When they had the balls they didn't find any solutions. We had a great chance with Lukaku and a couple more.

"In the second half, I was feeling that I need my bench and I had no bench. I need to play against Henderson, Can and Wijnaldum with power and energy and no power, no energy.

"We were playing with only two midfield players and nobody else to compensate that. So progressively we were losing some control and they were having a little bit more initiative and in the end, a point.

"Pogba, Fellaini and Carrick are three midfield players that we don't have. They played 90 minutes with Can, Henderson and Wijnaldum. I thought, playing at home, seven points behind us, they are going to change but they never did.

"They kept three midfield players in the centre of the pitch and I had no chance to answer."

Mourinho is likely to face more criticism for the way he approached the trip to Anfield but the United manager insisted it was a "positive" result.

It maintains their unbeaten start of the season with games against Tottenham and Chelsea to come in the next three weeks.

Mourinho added: "It is easy for the experts to speak but it is more difficult when you are on this side. Liverpool midfield was really strong and they never changed for 90 minutes.

"I had no chance to bring the game in another relation so I think it's a positive point for us. We controlled them and it was quite frustrating for them."

David De Gea was United's stand-out player after conjuring a fantastic reaction save to deny Joel Matip in the first half.

He said: "It's instinct. The ball is so quick but I got my foot and saved the ball so, good.

"Every save is important, especially here at Anfield. It's one point for us and we have to keep going."

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