Mourinho defends Manchester United's tactics after goalless draw

Jose Mourinho embraced the tactical battle against Jurgen Klopp.

After Liverpool and Manchester United produced a scoreless draw at Anfield in which the Red Devils were uncharacteristically unadventurous, Mourinho was quick to defend his tactics and referred to the second half as "a bit of chess." It was the second time in as many seasons that the two clubs manufactured a game without goals at the stadium, and the Special One appeared to enter the match with the idea of playing for a point.

"It depends on what is an entertaining game," Mourinho said, according to the Guardian's Daniel Taylor. "One thing is an entertaining game for fans, another thing is an entertaining game for people who read football in a different way.

"For me, the second half was a bit of chess but my opponent didn't open the door for me to win the game. We came for three (points) but in the second half it was difficult to do that with the dynamic as it was. I was waiting for Jurgen to change and go more attacking but he kept the three strong midfielders at all times.

"I was waiting for him to give me space to counter but he didn't give me that. So I know that probably you think we are defensive and they were offensive - well, you (Liverpool) are at home and you don't move anything. I don't know why. I was waiting for that and he didn't do it. I think he did well, honestly (not changing it)."

Liverpool was unable to break down United's defence, in which Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were immovable. But at no point did the Red Devils threaten to score. As Taylor detailed, "it was not until the 17th minute that Romelu Lukaku managed a touch of the ball," while Anthony Martial spent most of the game in his own half.