'We Will Play One Defender And Nine Strikers! - Says Mourinho Ahead Of Liverpool Tie

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho walks out prior to the Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester United at Bet365 Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho walks out prior to the Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester United at Bet365 Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

is ready to park the bus at Anfield again on Saturday after mocking suggestions that will be more adventurous against Liverpool.

Mourinho was criticised for his negative tactics when United stifled 's side in a drab goalless draw on Merseyside a year ago.

And it appears as though the Old Trafford boss is set to adopt a safety first policy again judging by his light-hearted response when asked if United will have a different approach this time.

'I play with one defender and nine strikers, don't worry about it,' said Mourinho, whose team have scored four goals in six of their 10 games this season.

'We play with one guy behind and then we go with a new system and we play with nine strikers, don't worry about it.'

United are facing one of their title rivals for the first time after a relatively straightforward start to the season, but Mourinho believes it is insulting to their opponents so far – West Ham, Swansea, Leicester, Stoke, Everton, Southampton and Crystal Palace – to suggest they have only had easy games.

He added: 'It's disrespectful to the opposition, not us. For the opposition it's not nice.

I think everybody knows we don't need to hide there are better teams than others, and at the end of the season you have the proof of that – the champion, runner-up, third and fourth.

'I don't think these teams that aren't going to be champion or top-four mind if everybody says that.

'But to say they're easy matches to win is a bit aggressive to them. The only thing I say is that we dropped points last season in many matches that you consider that you win before you start to play.

'You win in the tunnel because you wear a certain shirt, and we lost many of these points. This season we lost two points against Stoke but we managed to get points in the other matches.'

-Dailymail