Jose Mourinho labels Liverpool ‘the lucky ones’ ahead of Anfield clash with Manchester United

LIVERPOOL are “the lucky ones” insists Special One Jose Mourinho.

The Manchester United boss heads to Anfield today claiming Jurgen Klopp’s men are riding a wave of good fortune.

He points to three of the Anfield side’s last four games in which he says they rode that luck.

First came the Jordan Pickford clanger that allowed Divock Origi to plunder a bizarre winner in the Merseyside derby.

He says that the first goal of Mo Salah’s hat–trick at Bournemouth eight days ago should have been disallowed.

And Alisson’s desperate injury–time save against Napoli in midweek to get Liverpool into the Champions League last 16 also smacks of getting away with it, according to Mourinho.

He said: “They know how they beat Everton. They know the opening goal against Bournemouth was offside.

“And they know that against Napoli in the last seconds they could be out.”

Mourinho’s jibe will not go down too well within Klopp’s team or the Anfield faithful awaiting United’s visit.

But he says all teams — and all managers like him — need luck to be successful.

He added: “They have this feeling I also had when my teams were top of the league and it looks like everything goes your way.

“So I think they are very, very confident about themselves.

“They were top of the league, they have this feeling of — I know that feeling well — the feeling of the ‘lucky ones’ where everything goes in your direction.

“But they are not stupid. I think they also know this match is difficult.

“They know that we have our weaknesses but also our strengths, and they will respect our strengths.

“If they don’t do that I will be happy with that. They know we can go there and win.”

Mourinho stoked up the pressure on Klopp. He said: “They know that they need every point if they want to be champions.

“They are professionals and being professionals is respecting Manchester United.”

Mourinho also believes this is not the best Liverpool team he has faced — even though United currently trail them by 16 points.

He told Sky Sports: “I played against a Liverpool that was European champion.

“I know the other team was European champion and that this team has won nothing. So I have to respect the ones that did it, and I have to respect the ambition of the ones that didn’t.

“In the end it is about respect, but I would expect maybe Rafa Benitez, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard would not be happy with me if I said this team is better than that team.”

Klopp has led Liverpool to three finals — the League Cup and Europa League in 2016 and last year’s Champions League — but has lost on each occasion.

But Liverpool fans will no doubt revel in their current superiority over United, especially if they end an eight-game winless run against them in the league.

But Mourinho insisted he is looking forward to the occasion.

He added: “I always say I enjoy these places.

“Liverpool is a place where I had difficult times, but also amazing times and amazing victories.

“I love to go there, and respect that warm support from the fans to their team. And I like the feeling of the big matches.”

Marcus Rashford’s form has been one of the bright spots for United, and the forward sees no reason why United should not travel with confidence.

He said: “We don’t go there as underdogs, I think we go there to win the game, like any game.

“They are a good team, the intensity they play at makes the game difficult, but we have to match that and try to improve it.

“But I think it is important to focus on us and see how we can hurt them. And score some goals.”

Speaking to MUTV, striker Rashford added: “We have to try to keep up the intensity that we’ve shown in the last couple of games.

“The Christmas period is always busy so consistency is the main thing. The look of the season can change in just this one month, so we need to pick the points up and keep improving.”