Jose Mourinho insists Liverpool should win the Premier League title after their big moves in the transfer market, but how does their spending under Klopp compare to Manchester United’s? Mourinho believes Liverpool’s summer spending means they face immense pressure to win with the Manchester United coach labelling Jurgen Klopp’s change in transfer policy as “funny”.
Klopp has been forced to defend Liverpool’s expenditure on players, which topped £170m after signing goalkeeper Alisson last week, two years after the Liverpool boss was critical of United’s £90m move for Paul Pogba.
Speaking after the friendly against AC Milan – which United won 9-8 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw – Mourinho was in a jovial mood when asked about Liverpool’s transfer business, but stressed there will now be a “demand” for the club to end their 28-year wait for a league title
“Maybe this season finally you demand that they win,” Mourinho said when asked about Liverpool’s spending after United’s International Champions Cup win over AC Milan.
“I can’t see anyone else getting close to spending what they have [this summer],” he added. “A team that was a finalist in the Champions League, you have to say you are a big candidate, you have to win.”
“I think if you have the money, if you invest well, it is better than to have it in the bank. Because the interest rates are very low,” Mourinho said.
“The problem is you have to invest well and honestly I think they did very well, because every player they bought are quality players. I’m happy for them.
“And I’m also happy to smile [about Klopp’s previous comments] and to see that, you know, you can change your opinion and change as a person, it’s funny.
Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson (£67m) became Liverpool’s fourth signing of the summer last week following the arrivals of Naby Keita (£53.75m), Fabinho (£43m) and Xherdan Shaqiri (£13.5m), taking Liverpool’s summer spending to £176.95m.
It’s more than any other Premier League side have spent this summer – and more than double as much as United, who have so far spent £53m on Fred, £19m on Diogo Dalot and £1.5m on Lee Grant. Mourinho does, however, hope to make two more signings before the window closes.
Any new signings will see United close the spending gap on Liverpool for this summer, but how do the two sides compare since Mourinho’s appointment at United in May 2016?
As things stand, Liverpool have spent more, with Alisson’s arrival taking their overall spend since the summer of 2016 to £411.55m, compared to United’s £392.55. Remember, they did not pay transfer fees for Alexis Sanchez or Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Liverpool’s most expensive signing in that timeframe is Virgil van Dijk, who cost £75m from Southampton, while United’s is Paul Pogba, whose move from Juventus was worth £93.25m.
United are likely to surpass Liverpool’s total if Mourinho gets the two additional signings he wants before this summer’s deadline, which would extend their net spend, too.
United have only received £85.3m in player sales since Mourinho’s appointment, with Memphis Depay the most lucrative at £21.7m, but Liverpool have received £289.65m – a total which includes the £146m fee from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho.
So, while Mourinho’s United are likely to remain bigger spenders than Klopp’s Liverpool by the end of the transfer window, the Portuguese has a point when he suggests expectations on the Reds should be cranked up.
Both on and off the pitch, the famous rivalry promises more fireworks in the season ahead.