Mourinho urges United fans to find voice against Liverpool

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has urged his fans to find their voice when they host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, telling them to not just “come to the theatre” but “play with us”.

United defeated Hull City 2-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg of the League Cup with second half goals from midfielders Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini.

The Portuguese, however, was not impressed by the subdued atmosphere in the first half which reflected the lacklustre performance from his players on the pitch.

“I think in the first half the players have to do better, I have to do better, the fans they also have to do better,” Mourinho told the British media.

“Maybe I didn’t do my job well, maybe I should have brought more tension to the dynamic to prepare the game.”

Mourinho expected striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to feature against Liverpool after missing the Hull clash with illness, though defender Marcos Rojo is in doubt after he picked up an unspecified injury during the FA Cup win over Reading last weekend.

“Zlatan is ill so I think no problem, I think he will be fine (for Liverpool),” the United manager added.

“I don’t know (about Rojo). I’m not saying he’s not ready to play, I’m saying that I have my doubts.”

United are sixth in the league after 20 games with 39 points, trailing second-placed Liverpool by five points.

They turned frustration into jubilation as they planted one foot in the League Cup final after a late Fellaini header gave them the over Hull in the first leg of their last four clash on.

Mata had given United the lead early in the second half, but their failure to kill off the tie when comfortably on top had left the home fans fearing a testing return encounter as the seconds ticked away at Old Trafford.

The hosts had spurned several chances to put the tie to bed, with Paul Pogba rattling the post, before substitute Fellaini gave Jose Mourinho’s side some breathing space when he rose at the far post to head home with three minutes remaining.

The victory kept the Portuguese coach on course for a first trophy at the club and continued United’s superb recent form with a ninth successive victory in all competitions, but the demanding Mourinho was far from satisfied with what he saw.

“I was a bit disappointed yes,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think we were a bit sloppy, overcomplicating things, always delaying the decision, giving them time to regroup… In the second half we all improved a little bit, just a little bit.”

-Injury crisis-

In only his second game as Hull boss, fellow Portuguese Marco Silva had to deal with an injury crisis that left him with only 14 fit senior players and there was a makeshift look about them as United took control early on.

Mata drew an excellent save from Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic after two minutes, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan sidefooted wide after being set up perfectly by the Spaniard.

The visitors, whose injury woes got worse when Markus Henriksen went off after 19 minutes with a shoulder problem, did have arguably the best chance of the first half, however, when Adama Diomande headed against the base of the post.

Wayne Rooney, seeking to become United’s outright record scorer, crashed a shot just wide five minutes after the break and was later substituted, but the deadlock was soon broken.

Antonio Valencia’s deep cross to the far post was headed back across goal by Mkhitaryan and Mata ghosted in to volley home from close range.

United almost doubled their lead as Paul Pogba rattled the post with a free kick, but the frustration levels were rising until Belgian Fellaini came off the bench to make his mark and provide a cushion for the second leg on Jan. 26.

Southampton and Liverpool contest the other semi-final, with the first leg at St Mary’s on Wednesday.