Stewart Robson previews Manchester United’s trip to Anfield where they look to end league leaders Liverpool’s unbeaten run and gain ground back on the top four.
MANCHESTER, England — Jose Mourinho has told Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp that “trophies matter” as Manchester United prepare to travel to Anfield on Sunday.
Klopp has been lauded for his attacking style since taking over at Liverpool in 2015 but the United boss reminded his counterpart that real success can only be measured in silverware as he searches for his first trophy as Liverpool manager.
“I think trophies matter,” said Mourinho, who has won the Carabao Cup and Europa League at Old Trafford while Klopp has lost both those finals as well as the Champions League.
“It matters, especially when you have the potential to fight for trophies and especially when you clearly say the objective is to win the trophy.
“I think sometimes to just say it is not very intelligent but when you have the potential, you have nothing to hide, you know from day one your potential and your desire.
“To say we want to win, everyone can say that but another thing is to say the potential in a way you have but I think Jurgen said already they want to win the Premier League, that is their objective.”
Premier League leaders Liverpool are 16 points ahead of United going into the game on Sunday.
Mourinho has won two honours as United boss, while Klopp has lost three finals in his tenure as Liverpool manager.
While Mourinho’s team are involved in a scrap for a place in the top four, Liverpool have title ambitions after spending nearly £250 million on new players in 2018, including £168m in the summer.
It is nearly £100m more than United invested in their squad before the start of this season after spending close to £70m on Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant.
“It is not just about the money they spend in the summer, it is about many things, many things,” Mourinho said.
“It is not just about spending money and reinforcing the squad, a football team is more than that, a football team is not just about spending the money.
“A football team Is a little bit like a house too, a house is not just about buying new furniture, you have to do work in the house and when the house is ready, then you buy furniture. You spend money on the best possible furniture and then you’re ready to live in an amazing house.”
Mourinho, who hasn’t lost at Anfield since 2007, is preparing for Liverpool amid an injury crisis with problems affecting nine members of his squad.
Victor Lindelof and Alexis Sanchez have already been ruled out and there are doubts over Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian, Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial and Dalot.
“The latest is to tell you that in Valencia only [David] De Gea and [Nemanja] Matic were available to play and didn’t travel by decision,” Mourinho said.
“Apart from that the players that didn’t travel they were not fit to play in Valencia, all of them they had injuries and they were not ready.
“All of them didn’t train [on Thursday] and [on Friday] there will be a little — I don’t want to say test — but a little introduction to training to see the answer.
“But for sure, I hope — it is better not to say for sure — I hope some will be available but for sure some will not be available.”
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