Five years ago this weekend a trip to Anfield signalled the end of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United reign.
The special one was no longer so special. He’d delivered the Europa League and the Carabao Cup but things had turned. The squad was short on quality and looked a little lost.
Paul Pogba was a frustrated figure consigned to the role of unused sub and United were overpowered by a fierce Liverpool start and despite hauling themselves level, shipped two late goals to lose 3-1. The 2018 points gap between the oldest of rivals stood at 19, this year it will ‘only’ be 13 if United lose at Anfield once again but the parallels are clear.
Erik ten Hag’s stuttering side haven’t found any form to lose this season and travel to Merseyside on the back of a woeful home defeat to Bournemouth and a limp Champions League exit to Bayern Munich. Few predict this United vintage can prevail at Liverpool.
“The players gave everything and, when the players give everything, I am never frustrated towards them,” said Mourinho five years ago, sounding not too unlike Ten Hag this term. The now Roma boss spoke of a failure to cope with the intensity, aggression and physicality of Liverpool while also speaking of his own ‘injury prone’ players. United are a walking wounded heading into battle this weekend.
“When you are permanently injured, physicality is very difficult to get,” bemoaned Mourinho. “I have lot of good players technically but we don’t have lots of players with that intensity, that physicality, so when the game has high levels of intensity it is difficult for us.”
“When you are permanently injured, physicality is very difficult to get,” bemoaned Mourinho. “I have lot of good players technically but we don’t have lots of players with that intensity, that physicality, so when the game has high levels of intensity it is difficult for us.”
Since Mourinho, United have had four managers including the current incumbent. None have managed to sufficiently turn the tide even if fleeting glimpses of the promised land have appeared on the horizon.
Ahead of the latest visit to Liverpool, Mourinho’s words ring true with the current squad. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
