Mourinho criticises 'cautious' Liverpool post scoreless stalemate at Anfield

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has accused Liverpool of being the 'cautious team' in a dull goalless draw in their Premier League clash at Anfield.

United nullified Liverpool, a side which had scored nine goals in their previous two home games, with Mourinho selecting a defensive line-up.

Both the teams got plenty of chances to break the deadlock in the second-half of the match, but none of the team was able to put the ball behind the goal post.

United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was the lone striker for Anfield, had a great chance to open his side's account in the first half when he contrived to head Paul Pogba's curling cross away from the Liverpool goal.

Yet, the United boss has claimed that it was Jurgen Klopp's side which approached the north-west duel with a defensive mind-set due to the presence of Emre Can and Jordan Henderson in central midfield.

"We stopped them playing but they also did very well from the defensive point of view," the Guardian quoted Mourinho as saying. "They played Can and Henderson for some reason and they did that for 90 minutes when they normally project more players in attack."

The 53-year-old Portuguese further said that Liverpool were very cautious.

"They kept always Can and Henderson in position. They had only one player behind the three more offensive players. I think it was their intention to try and control us, which they also did well," he said.

With the result, Liverpool's four-game winning streak has come to an end and they have also missed a chance to move level on points at the top of the Premier League table.

Meanwhile, United are currently languishing down on seventh spot with 14 points.

Liverpool will now lock horns with West Brom while United will next face Chelsea.