Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren reminded us what bitter rivalries are all about by taking a blatant swipe at the tactics he believes Manchester United will utilize at Old Trafford tomorrow. In the reverse fixture at Anfield, United manager Jose Mourinho employed a playing not to lose, instead of a playing to win strategy and the result was just brutal to watch.
United set a club record for lowest possession percentage in a Premier League game since that statistic started being recorded. They also managed only one shot on goal, and the result was a dull and tedious 0-0 draw. Dejan Lovren maintains that his team will play in an all out attacking style and try to gain all three points.
The 28-year-old also added that his side would never play with ambitions of just obtaining a single point.
“Last time here, they defend really deep. So let’s see what happens now,” Lovren said.
He was then asked if he expects to see the Red Devils park the bus again: “I think so. They need the points, definitely. For them it will be maybe a point good but for us, we never play for a point. We are there, we will give our best.
“We will play like we play every day, attacking football. Let’s enjoy.”
While throwing shade at Mourinho for being too pragmatic, and downright boring, Lovren also admitted the threat posed by the Red Devils. He said he watched United’s come from behind victory at Crystal Palace on Monday night, and for awhile believed that United might attack them this weekend, had their rivals lost at Selhurst Park.
“During their last game, I think ‘Yes they may attack us,’ but unfortunately they won in the last moment,” the Croatian continued. The Reds back also admitted that while the style of his rivals may lack entertainment value, it does get the job done.
“You know Mourinho has his own plans. Whatever he does, it is not our job to know, it is our job to focus on ourselves and play how we hope will beat them.”
“Maybe they are not in the best shape but still they win ugly. What matters is the points. It will be a tough challenge definitely.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.