Liverpool, along with City and Chelsea, are among the favourites for the Premier League title.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho (Photo: AFP)
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho’s demand that Liverpool be considered favourites for the Premier League title after their significant outlay in the summer transfer window has evoked a wry smile and a witty response from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
So far, Liverpool have acquired the services of goalkeeper Alisson Becker (£56 million), midfielder Fabinho (£40.5 million) and winger Xherdhan Shaqiri (£13 million). Guinean midfielder Naby Keita has also arrived at Anfield this summer, even though his £54 million deal was agreed last season.
To add to the aforementioned signings, central defender Virgil van Dijk was acquired for a club-record fee of £75 million in the January transfer window, which means the Merseyside outfit have done business for well over £150 million in the calendar year.
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United meanwhile, have struggled to land their targets, which perhaps led to the surly Mourinho’s attempt at putting the pressure on the Red Devils’ arch rivals.
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So far, United have only signed Brazilian midfielder Fred (£57 million), Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot (£19 million) and back-up goalkeeper Lee Grant.
In January, Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez arrived at Old Trafford in a straight swap for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
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“I heard he was smiling when he said it and he found it funny,” Klopp responded at his press conference in Michigan ahead of the two sides’ International Champions Cup encounter.
“So I am really happy that Jose is smiling. It doesn’t happen often.”
Liverpool fans can’t wait for the season to start, for despite Klopp’s insistence that the club aren’t title favourites, they believe that a first league triumph since 1990 could be on the cards this season.
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After facing United on Saturday, the Reds take on Serie A sides Torino and Napoli for their final pre-season ties.
They open their 2018/19 Premier League campaign with a home clash against West Ham United on August 12.
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