Mourinho must evolve to survive Anfield onslaught

Liverpool fans have always reserved their most vicious receptions for Jose Mourinho, so on his first visit as Manchester United boss at 3am tomorrow (Singapore time), you can bet that a tumultuous atmosphere will engulf Anfield.

Our English Premier League expert Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) previews a hot-blooded encounter that will also tell us plenty about both clubs’ title credentials …

MOURINHO MUST MODERNISE

It is a year to the day since the modish Jurgen Klopp took charge of his first Liverpool match, and there is a growing sense that he is making Jose Mourinho’s management style look ever-so-slightly antiquated.

Scoring more goals (73) and enjoying a higher average possession (58.8 per cent) than anyone during the past 365 days, the German’s excitable brand of frenzied-but-fluid, power-press football is very much the vogue philosophy.

It is fresh. He is fresh. It is the now. He is the now.

And with a charismatic personality to match the warmth of the football on show, it feels like he is a modern-day flag-bearer.

That used to be Mourinho. So, is he yesterday’s man? Are his methods dated?

I do not believe so (yet) but it is hard to deny there is an air of predictability about his work.

We know that the same old mind-game tricks will bubble away at his press conferences; we know he will organise United into a strong defensive unit; we know he will galvanise a them-against-us mentality in the dressing room; we know he will build a slick 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 around a target man; we know he will find a way to win trophies.

We also know he will be grizzly and cynical, and that, sometime in the not-too-distant future, his ego will activate the self-destruct button. Again.

To keep up with the rest of the EPL’s bright young managers, Mourinho must evolve his ideology and develop something innovative that will pique the interest of the new generation of players.

Trailing the Reds gaffer by three victories to one in their personal head-to-head, tonight will be an ideal moment to spring some kind of tactical surprise.

TIME FOR POGBA TO MAN UP

Paul Pogba is an obscenely talented individual, but is he mentally prepped for the vicious storm that Anfield is about to whip up?

Until the young Frenchman enters Merseyside’s “ring of fire”, even he will not know. Unless he readies himself for it, Liverpool will blow him over in a hurricane of ferocious pressing.

Physically he has the frame to handle most situations — and Pogba’s nimble footwork often keeps him out of trouble — but in direct opposition to pumped-up Reds captain, Jordan Henderson, he had better bring his shin pads. Any dilly-dallying on the ball will be punished with a bone-crunching challenge.

That is why it is in Liverpool’s interests to make this match as high-octane as possible — for Pogba is easily good enough to dominate if it turns into a regulation affair.

It will be down to Henderson and those around him in the engine room to wrench the superstar away from his comfort zone to see if he is man enough to hack it.

Should he rise to the challenge and be the star of the show regardless, the world’s most expensive player will earn English football’s full respect.

SLIPPERY STARS TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON

Quick-witted movement is the enemy of defenders, and both sides have players capable of unlocking the gates, with one run of genial timing or quality.

The two who stand out most are not necessarily the biggest names, but they do have the brainpower and deceptiveness to make the difference at Anfield — Sadio Mane and Jesse Lingard.

Mane, 24, is a key part of a Liverpool front three who is capable of bamboozlement of the highest order. Quick, nimble and deadly when given a chance, the winger is tough to pin down.

United cannot man-mark him. He is too elusive for that. One moment you will see him with the ball at his feet in a one vs one with Daley Blind out wide, the next he will be surging down the middle screaming for a pass to be played through. There is an impressive variety to his running power.

England international Lingard is not as gifted as some of his team-mates, but his eye for space is exceptional.

Very few footballers are as adept as he is at fooling markers with a decoy run that is designed to create space for him in another pocket. He checks and runs again, altering his angles quite magnificently, so makeshift full back James Milner is set for his roughest defensive ride yet. I would not be surprised if a clever burst from either player helped settle matters.

BIG MATCH PREDICTION

LIVERPOOL 2 MAN UNITED 1

United boast the better individuals, but Liverpool have the better team. That’s why it’s impossible for me to back against the on-song hosts in this one.

Mourinho is still searching for his Eureka moment. The pieces seem to fit OK, but until now there’s still something disjointed about the way his new team operates. A clear pattern and style is yet to reveal itself, nor is the make up of his strongest XI.

That’s not something Klopp is worrying about. The radiant Reds chief is fast developing a formula that works.

His team works ferociously hard (they cover more distance than anyone else in the EPL, with United the lowest) and because of that fierce closing down, they are successfully protecting a suspect rearguard.

They can’t keep a clean sheet for love nor money, but because they cut loose by fluidly attacking at pace, from unusual angles, Liverpool are outscoring most rivals.

While I wouldn’t put it past Mourinho to inspire a surprise tactical shut out that serves as a reminder of his credentials, it just feels like Klopp’s racier, modernist approach, will be too much for United to handle.

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Adrian Clarke’s combined Liverpool/Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1)

GOALKEEPER - David De Gea (Man United)

This was an easy choice. The Spaniard is one of the best goalkeepers on the planet.

RIGHT-BACK – Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool)

Earns his place because he has greater defensive instincts than Antonio Valencia.

CENTRE-BACK – Eric Bailly (Man United)He has power, aggression and a terrific temperament. The Ivorian looks a top signing.

CENTRE-BACK – Chris Smalling (Man United)

There’s room for improvement in his game, but makes fewer mistakes than Dejan Lovren.

LEFT-BACK – Daley Blind (Man United)

Liverpool’s James Milner is playing brilliantly at full back, but Blind’s nous and set piece quality gives him the nod.

CENTRE-MIDFIELD – Paul Pogba (Man United)

He has an unbelievable talent. We’ve only seen glimpses so far, but the Frenchman’s a superstar.

CENTRE-MIDFIELD – Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)Every side needs a rock solid leader and the Liverpool skipper fits the bill. Under-rated too.

RIGHT-MIDFIELD – Jesse Lingard (Man United)

He’s in confident form and makes very special runs. Full backs don’t like tracking him.

LEFT-MIDFIELD – Coutinho (Liverpool)

I love watching this Brazilian, who is capable of delivering a moment of brilliance at any time.

ATTACKING-MIDFIELD – Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Slippery, skillful and often pretty destructive, Mane has enhanced Klopp’s side no end this term.

CENTRE-FORWARD - Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United)

A big-game player who’s still got it. At 35, he continues to scare defenders witless with his class.