Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Man Utd news: Pundit makes Liverpool comparison over Jose Mourinho
MANCHESTER UNITED’s current form and style are just like former Liverpool sides.
Jose Mourinho says Man United will 'compete' at Man City
That’s the view of pundit Jermaine Jenas, who believes United have lost their identity and are no longed feared like they once were.
Manchester United have won 13 Premier League titles though have struggled since the retirement of legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Jose Mourinho is their third manager since Ferguson’s departure, following David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
The Portuguese boss led United to second in the Premier League last year, though they still finished 19 points behind champions Manchester City.
United have struggled this season but showed the spirit of old when they fought back from a goal down with two strikes in the final five minutes to beat Juventus in midweek.
But despite that, Jenas believes the Red Devils are still a team without that fear factor and has compared them to the Liverpool team of a couple of decades ago.
“The United of Sir Alex doesn't relate to the United of today and you cannot view current performances through the achievements and style of the former team,” Jenas wrote in the Mail.
“This club is more like Liverpool in the Nineties under Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier, a team adjusting to its loss of stature.
“Take the result against Juventus on Wednesday night, a masterclass from Jose Mourinho and probably the best performance since he took charge.
“It was classic Mourinho: no one gave him a chance; the crowd was against him; the team he was playing had been demonstrably better at Old Trafford; plenty of people wanted him to lose.
“He loves playing the villain. He's still at his best when he has to be a reactive coach, relishing stealing a result rather than being overwhelming favourite and asked to play expansive football.
“And that's where United are at the moment.”
United face rivals Man City today in the first Manchester derby of the season (4.30pm).
And Jenas has revealed Mourinho’s best chance of getting win at the Etihad.
He added: “It is intriguing to speculate how Mourinho will set up against City.
“I know there is a temptation to think he will park the bus. And clearly if City are at their best, there is a risk they can humiliate any team.
“Mourinho can't risk something like that ruining his mini-revival. But what remains true about City is that they'll always give you a chance.
“And what Lyon have shown and Liverpool showed last season is that they remain vulnerable to a forward line with pace.”