Jose Mourinho blames Liverpool for boring showdown

Britain Football Soccer - Liverpool v Manchester United - Premier League - Anfield - 17/10/16 Manchester United's Wayne Rooney prepares to comes on as Jose Mourinho looks on Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Jose Mourinho took a swipe at Liverpool as he insisted it was their fault this epic Anfield showdown turned into a bore draw.

Manchester United had the lowest possession stats they've ever recorded in the Premier League with just 35 per cent after a fairly dour defensive affair.

But their maverick boss turned his fire on opposite number Jurgen Klopp by claiming in typically perverse fashion it was he who was more negative.

Britain Football Soccer - Liverpool v Manchester United - Premier League - Anfield - 17/10/16 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho at the end of the match Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Asked about the lowest possession stats since they first started being recorded back in 2003, he snapped back: “Look last season United won here, Liverpool had 14 shots on target and United had one.

“How many shots on target did Liverpool have today, Two? So two shots with 65 percent possession - you have to be critical because that's their problem, it's not our problem.”

And Mourinho claimed that for all the plaudits aimed at Klopp for his attacking style, the Liverpool manager was in fact scared of United's counter-attacking threat, and so played with two holding midfielders.

“They played Can and Henderson for some reason (sitting) and they did that for 90 mins. They normally project more players in attack but they were very cautious,” he said.

“You like to say they are the eighth wonder in the world as an attacking team, but they are also a team who defends and like to think defensively, with two in there. I think it was their intention to try and control us. But we controlled the game tactically, and we controlled the game emotionally.”

Liverpool did have the two best chances of the game when David De Gea produced two brilliant saves from Can and Philippe Coutinho, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a glorious chance to win the game.

Britain Football Soccer - Liverpool v Manchester United - Premier League - Anfield - 17/10/16 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

But Reds boss Klopp took a swipe back at United as he admitted his side lost their cool under what he suggested was a physical long ball approach from United.

“No I wasn't surprised (at how defensive they were),” he said. “We knew there would be a lot of high balls, and it was difficult to defend with Fellaini and Pogba there with Ibrahimovic.

"It was one thing they wanted to do for sure, and being a very physical strong team was another. Ok they may be a little bit better stronger physically than we were

“But we have to use that. We weren't calm enough in the spaces. When you defend like Manchester United - it's their style and that's it, you have to accept it and deal with it.”