Mourinho asked opinion on Klopp: 'I've not much to say'

Jose Mourinho isn't here to make friends.

The combative Portuguese handler of Manchester United is preparing his troops ahead of Monday's clash in Liverpool, and was initially guarded with the media at Friday's pre-match press conference.

When asked on whether he believed Jurgen Klopp's Reds were candidates for the Premier League title, Mourinho replied: "You have to ask them. They are a good team."

And then when pressed on his opinion on the affable German, the former Chelsea boss could only offer: "I've not much to say."

From what's evident in the technical area, Klopp would appear to have a personality that contrasts with Mourinho's. The Liverpool overseer is a firecracker, full of sparky movements and explosive celebrations, while Mourinho is abrasive with the match officials and often looks to be brooding on the bench.

Their playing philosophies are also at odds with one another. Klopp favours a rapid attack-first pressing style, and Mourinho will engineer whatever he believes is required for a win - whether it's pretty or not.

Through Mourinho's stints in Portugal, England, Italy, and Spain, he has tasted plenty of rivalries, and although he's keen to point out the Anfield test is not as decisive as some would like to make out, he understands that the two teams from either end of a relatively small stretch of the M62 regularly play out heated occasions.

"Being Manchester United manager means something more because we cannot compare the historical rivalry between my previous club (Chelsea) and Liverpool, and Man United and Liverpool," Mourinho continued.

"It's just a big match that can be comparable to Inter-Milan to Madrid-Barcelona, maybe Porto-Benfica. Maybe comparable to one of these matches and I like."

Under Louis van Gaal, United took all six points from Liverpool last term, but was beaten by its northwest foe over two legs in the Europa League Round of 16.