Mourinho advised to drop Pogba from Liverpool clash

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Jose Mourinho has been urged to leave Paul Pogba out for Manchester United's trip to Liverpool this weekend.

The Frenchman returned to the starting line-up for the Champions League defeat to Valencia after being left out of United's previous two matches.

Pogba was below-par again as United, who had already qualified for the last 16, missed the chance to finish top of the group.

Mourinho and his squad arrived back at Manchester Airport at 2am on Thursday morning to begin their preparations for Sunday's trip to Anfield.

It remains to be seen if Pogba will keep his place in the starting line-up for the clash with the Premier League leaders.

Former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy sees no reason why Pogba should be included in the United starting line-up.

"Mourinho isn't getting the best out of Pogba, that's clear. There is a lack of interest from Pogba," the Welshman said on Sky Sports' The Debate.

"His performance in Valencia was concerning. He was poor again.

"I'm not sure if he is as good as a lot of people make out.

"There's a massive game on Sunday, Liverpool versus Manchester United is the biggest game in the Premier League between the teams who have won the most trophies, an incredible fixture.

"If you're Mourinho, after Pogba's performance it will be very difficult to say he has to play, he has to leave him out again."

Mourinho made wholesale changes for the clash with Valencia with his side missing a host of players.

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Ashley Young, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard were all introduced and the United boss confirmed they would start at Anfield while the other places are up for grabs.

Marcos Rojo joined a growing injury list and Mourinho added: "Smalling is injured, Lindelof is injured, Darmian is injured, Martial is injured, Dalot is injured.

"The only two players I could bring and didn’t was De Gea and Matic."