Jamie Redknapp has blamed Jurgen Klopp and not Jose Mourinho for making his side take a draw at Anfield on Saturday.
The United manager has been accused of playing it “safe” and all too happy to sit deep for their high-profile clash with arch-rivals Liverpool, with Mourinho only looking to exit the game unbeaten.
The Red Devils contested the match firmly from their own half, frustrating Liverpool and denying them chances to score and stifling their attack.
Former Liverpool manager and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has accused Klopp of not doing more to win the game, and named him just as guilty as the Portuguese manager looking to emerge from the game satisfied with just a draw and not all three points.
Redknapp has stated that the Liverpool manager should have been more aware of Mourinho’s intent – after all, it is not uncommon for the United boss to not take attacking risks defend heavily and park the bus, especially in these high-profile matches. Saturday’s goalless draw was the second successive draw between the two sides.
“It was up to Liverpool to unlock the door but they could not deliver,” said Redknapp in his column for the Daily Mail.
“With 10 minutes to go, United looked there for the taking but Klopp took off Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho — Liverpool’s two most dangerous players on Saturday.
“I do not blame Mourinho for the dull display. By the end, Klopp was as guilty in settling for a draw.”
Redknapp echoes former Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher’s comments where he had suggested Klopp be more adventurous with his substitutions, implementing more attack instead of making player for player substitutes.
Carragher had suggested for Klopp to take off a midfielder, like Emre Can, in favour of bolstering their attacking options with one of Daniel Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Dominic Solanke to provide even more threat.
Redknapp maintained that it is naive to think that Mourinho would be tempted to play entertaining football in such a top-level match.
In Mourinho’s last six league games under the top six of the table, he has only scored one goal – and recorded three goalless draws.
“Did anyone seriously expect Jose Mourinho to go to Anfield and open up? Mourinho is one of the Premier League’s greatest managers but rarely do you see him involved in thrilling, high-scoring encounters,” continued Redknapp.
“I cannot recall his teams winning too many games 3-2. He hates those matches. This game was built up as if it was El Clasico but, if Jose was able to get his way, this was always going to be a boring draw.
“Mourinho is not bothered by the spectacle. Staying unbeaten was the only thing on his agenda. You have to ask questions of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, not Mourinho.”
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