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Mourinho slammed for jibe at Liverpool

Former Red Thompson blasts United boss for his comments on Pool's spending

Former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson has called Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho "outrageous" for suggesting that the Reds are trying to "buy the title".

CRYSTAL PALACE LIVERPOOL

The Reds Devils boss had told Sky Sports: "I think Liverpool are trying to buy the title, but when I say buying I mean 'buying' with amazing investment."

Ahead of Liverpool's English Premier League visit to Crystal Palace tomorrow morning (Singapore time), former Reds assistant manager Thompson responded, telling Sky Sports: "Our net spend compared to United's net spend is massively different.

"How can he say that? Is he just trying to wind people up? Liverpool trying to buy the title?

"I can accept that from some other clubs and managers, but not from Jose Mourinho.

"It was absolutely outrageous comments coming from Mourinho, who has bought titles everywhere he's gone."

After two seasons of positive net transfer spend, Liverpool splashed £164 million (S$286.3 million) on Alisson, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri ahead of the season.

Manchester United haven't been as busy in the transfer market, much to Mourinho's chagrin, spending £74.4 million on Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant, but the club haven't had a positive net transfer spend since 2009/10, when they sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

Liverpool and United's contrasting transfer windows is one reason the Reds are viewed to have usurped the Red Devils as champions Manchester City's chief English Premier League title rivals this season.

The lived up to that billing in their EPL opener, crushing fellow big spenders West Ham United 4-0 at Anfield.

But Reds legend Mark Lawrenson is tipping his former club to drop points against Palace, telling the BBC: "West Ham were wide open against Liverpool last week, but the Reds will not get the same treatment in south London.

"Eagles manager Roy Hodgson will not give them any space - it is a big part of the way his teams play."

Fellow former Reds man Jamie Redknapp, meanwhile, warned the Reds to be wary of the "special talent" of Wilfried Zaha.

He told Sky Sports: "It's never an easy game there and, with Zaha fresh from scoring against Fulham and signing a new deal, he will be a real handful.

"He's a special talent - Palace's remarkable record last season with and without him underlined that.

"They've got a good squad and Hodgson has done well there, so it won't be easy for Liverpool. I think they'll get across the line, though - and that's just the kind of win they'll need if they are to challenge City this season."

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp concurred on Zaha, but added that his side will also have to be wary of strike partner Christian Benteke, who he sold in 2016 after a wretched season on Merseyside.

Said Klopp: "Everybody who thinks about writing Benteke off makes a big mistake, because his obvious skills are always there.

"Even if he didn't score too often last season, he always has opportunities. It's a big challenge to defend set-pieces when Christian is around. He will score goals this season, there's no doubt about that."

Benteke's manager, too, had a torrid time during his six-month spell at Anfield.

However, Hodgson was keen to point out that the club were in a very different place when he was at the helm.

Said the former England manager: "It's a long time since I was there... It was a very different Liverpool to the one we see today, because the one we see today has had a lot of money. We didn't have any money to spend."

Liverpool who will be without the injured Dejan Lovren, could see centre-back Joel Matip return to the squad.

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