A tactical masterclass?
Going to Anfield is never easy, Liverpool may be underperforming this season but trying to win there is always a big ask. Especially in a grudge match like that.
Saturday afternoon’s 0-0 draw wasn’t the most eventful, it was the epitome of two teams cancelling each other out, Klopp’s attacking football against Mourinho’s defensive style.
Of course, there is a lot more to it than that but for simplification reasons that just about sums it up.
So it was no surprise when fans came out complaining about the match not being a spectacle, everyone just wants to be a little bit entertained.
Mourinho is proper boring.
Put a glass eye to sleep.
— TheEggChef (@TheEggChef) October 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/Prakeeshkhosh/status/919203541490712576
https://twitter.com/LondonRaider/status/919203486688038914
And there was one telling statistic from the game Man Utd had only six touches in the opposition area today, 11 fewer than their previous PL low this season and 21 below their seasonal average according to Sky Sports.
Man Utd had only 6 touches in the opposition area today, 11 fewer than their previous PL low this season & 21 below their seasonal average pic.twitter.com/HwBedGT4Rd
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) October 14, 2017
So it is fair to say the Manchester United manager didn’t set up to go all guns blazing at Liverpool as they produced only one shot on target but speaking in the post-match press conference:
“If you were bored by that game it’s your problem & you’re not one of those people who read football in a different way,” as per Sam Wallace of The Telegraph
Jose suggesting if you were bored by that game it's your problem & you're not one of "those people who read football in a different way"
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) October 14, 2017
Wallace is also reporting that Mourinho said:
“For me, second half was a bit of chess but my opponent didn’t open the door for me to win the game.”
Mourinho: 'For me, second half was a bit of chess but my opponent didn't open the door for me to win the game'
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) October 14, 2017
