Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at claims that he will use defensive tactics for his side’s game against Liverpool on Saturday, as he cheekily claimed he will deploy revolutionary tactics at Anfield.

Mourinho enjoyed great success against Liverpool during his time as Chelsea manager, with his plan of stifling the attacking intent of the home side at Anfield setting up some big wins.

His United side’s defensive display in a 0-0 draw away at Liverpool last season drew criticism from observers who suggested his side should have shown more ambition, but Mourinho had a feisty response to comments that clearly riled him.

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“I play with one defender and nine strikers, don’t worry about it, that’s for sure,” said a devious Mourinho. “We play with one guy behind and then we go with a new system and we play with nine strikers, don’t worry about it.”

Mourinho insisted his side would relish the atmosphere at Anfield, as he argued he now has a team ready to handle the pressure of playing on the Premier League’s biggest stages.

“We go to play against a big team with a great tradition in an amazing stadium, we know the fans have a huge animosity against United historically, this is what we want,” he continued.

“We have this beautiful conditions, it’s beautiful to play at Anfield. I am surprised when I hear former big players speak about atmospheres like something sinister, it motivates us, if we could have every match we would have every match.

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“When Barcelona played against Las Palmas in an empty stadium, do you think the players were happy with that?

“We are speaking about Old Trafford, Anfield in this case, like it’s a big problem, it’s a satisfaction, it’s what we want, I never see a player complain this atmosphere is very strong, when we don’t play at home and don’t see big enthusiasm with the people, we complain.”

Mourinho also tried to downplay the significance of his side’s trip to Anfield, as he tried to dilute the hype around the game that is viewed as the first big test for his side after starting the season with games against side’s in the lower half of the table.

“For us, I am not bothered but it is disrespectful to opponents, not nice,” he added amid claims that his side have had easy fixtures so far. “Everybody knows, don’t need to hide, there are some better teams than others. That is logical.

“For these teams that are not going to be top three top four, to so say playing against them it is easy matches, it is a bit aggressive to them. We drop points last season in many matches that you consider to be won before we start to play. We lost a lot of these points.”