No hiding place for Man United, Klopp declares

Jurgen Klopp may have asked if Jose Mourinho invented “park the bus”, but he has no problems with the Manchester United boss doing it.

The Liverpool manager travels to Old Trafford today at the centre of a fascinating debate between two totally different football philosophies.

While Mourinho has been criticised for a defensive approach that refuses to let his star-studded side off the leash, Klopp has found a brilliant attacking rhythm that has seen his side break the 100 goal barrier this season.

But when asked about his rival’s style ahead of the huge showdown, the Reds boss insisted the only thing that matters in the top of the table clash is winning…not tactics.

“I would never use that saying,” he replied when asked if Mourinho will park the bus again. “Did he say it first? Was he the inventor of the phrase ‘parking the bus’?

“I have no problem with defending. I know how the situation is and what people are saying they play a specific kind of football, we play a specific kind of football and now everyone makes a big thing of it.

“This Manchester United team has a specific way of playing football. That’s all. And if we have to defend there, we have to defend there with all we have – it’s all about winning.”

Klopp in fact, believes that no team can go to Old Trafford and produce stunning against football against Mourinho’s men.

The Liverpool manager describes United as “physically very strong”, and he believes that will mean his side can not go to the home of their rivals and impose their attacking game as they have done in recent weeks.

“People are thinking we are flying…against Manchester Untied nobody flies,” he said.

“They are physically too strong, technically too strong. That’s the truth. It’s not a battle of systems or philosophies, just two very good football teams who face each other.