Kenny Dalglish expects Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho to adopt a similar defensive approach to last season when they play Liverpool on Saturday.

Mourinho's first encounter with Liverpool as United boss was a 0-0 draw at Anfield nearly 12 months ago, with the visitors having just 35 percent of possession -- at the time their lowest in a Premier League match since Opta began recording the data in 2003-04.

Former Liverpool player and manager Dalglish, who will attend a ceremony on Friday at Anfield where the former Centenary Stand will be renamed the Kenny Dalglish Stand in his honour. is predicting another close-fought encounter this weekend, with Jurgen Klopp's side expected to take the game to United.

"You would always expect Liverpool vs. Manchester United to be a tight game," he is quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo. "Last year, when United came to Liverpool, Jose Mourinho parked the bus. But it wasn't just the one bus, I think it was a couple of double-deckers he put there. That's not to give him stick in any way. It was very difficult for Liverpool and [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic nearly got a late winner.

"I think United will come and set up quite defensively, but at the same time they have fantastic frontmen in Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial. I think Jose will try to make sure the pressure is on Liverpool, but the pressure is on everyone when it comes to a game like that."

Liverpool have made an indifferent start to the season and lie seventh in the Premier League table -- seven points adrift of leaders Manchester City and United.

Earlier this week marked two years since Klopp took charge of the Merseyside club, and Dalglish is still predicting the former Borussia Dortmund boss to deliver success.

"I think he's a perfect fit for the football club," he said. "I think he can relate brilliantly to the fans and the fans can relate to him. I think we're moving forwards and upwards since he's come in. He may be criticised for the goals he concedes but his philosophy has always been to score more goals than the opposition so I think that's what the fans want to see.

"Between now and May I think there will be a lot more smiles than there will be disappointments. They finished fourth [last season] so I think they'll be expecting to finish a bit higher this year. United and City are both stronger so that is a bit unfortunate. Chelsea got off to a bad start, but they've picked up and Tottenham are also looking strong.

"It's going to be a difficult task to get higher than fourth but hopefully they can do it and I think they've got the best person in charge to do that."

The unveiling of the Dalglish stand will come less than 24 hours before the arrival of arch-rivals Manchester United for the resumption of the Premier League and Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton are both on Dalglish's guest list for the event.

Despite the public perception being of a frosty relationship between the two Scots when they were in charge of England's two most successful clubs in the 1980s and 1990s, Dalglish insists the pair are friends and always have been -- despite Ferguson succeeding in his quest to "knock Liverpool off their perch."

"If he wanted to get to the top he had to target Liverpool, and Everton, because when he came down here in the 80s Liverpool and Everton were winning at least one thing every year,'' added Dalglish.

"I don't even remember him saying that comment. It wouldn't have registered with me.

"How can you criticise someone who is totally supportive of his club? He made a massive contribution to Manchester United.

"Away from working there has never been a problem with him. After the end of the game there was never any animosity or dissent from either of us, there would always be a drink.

"His actions speak louder than a 1,000 words, him and Sir Bobby coming over. They did exactly the same after Hillsborough. They were over here early doors.

"There is rivalry on and off the pitch but when it comes to something like that there is not even a doubt about it - they will be over here supporting us and hopefully we would do the same for them.''

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by Glenn Price

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