Jose Mourinho: Manchester United boss saw himself being the Sir Alex Ferguson of Liverpool

Mourinho will take his Manchester United team to Liverpool today aiming to inflict more misery on the Merseyside giants.

The Reds go into today’s game stuck in a rut, having won just one of their last seven games across all competitions.

Pressure is growing on Jurgen Klopp, who knows that a defeat today would further increase the scrutiny surrounding his position. 

But the Independent say that Jose Mourinho, and not Klopp, could easily be occupying the dugout today had the 54-year-old got his way back in 2004.

At the time, the United boss had just won the Champions League with Porto.

Chelsea appeared in pole position to secure his signature immediately afterwards, particularly after Roman Abramovich axed Claudio Ranieri.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were on the lookout for a new manager to replace Gerard Houllier. 

And the Independent say that Mourinho was determined to take the Anfield job.

It is said they were his first-choice, with the veteran knowing the roles at Manchester United and Arsenal were already filled.

Tottenham had been rebuffed earlier in the campaign and Newcastle, where his old mentor Bobby Robson was, was never considered.

He supposedly targeted a long stay at Liverpool, wanting to build a similar dynasty to that if Sir Alex Ferguson at United.

And he also told his agent at the time, Jorge Baidek, to sound them out.

However, Liverpool ended up appointing Rafa Benitez instead. And the rest, it seems, is history.