José Mourinho disparages Liverpool’s injury crisis and claims the Reds have an “unfair advantage”

José Mourinho has disparaged Liverpool’s injury crisis by stating that Virgil van Dijk is their only significant casualty.

Mourinho even featured nine big names who he claimed would definitely start for Liverpool in their title match at Anfield in a notable blow to recent complaints from Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool manager Klopp has been furious at player demands amid a growing list of players left on the treatment table with van Dijk and Joe Gomez in danger of missing the season, while Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara and James Milner are among the other casualties.

But Mourinho said that “all clubs have injuries” and insisted that the reigning champions will be able to form a strong starting line-up, as he says Spurs are missing so many players.

Tottenham manager Mourinho said: “Van Dijk is injured and Van Dijk is a very good player, of course. But give me the Liverpool injury list and compare that injury list to which is the best Liverpool team and then… I can give you a list of 10 Tottenham injuries.

“Well, I think Alexander-Arnold is not injured, Matip I think he will play. Fabinho is not injured, Robertson is not injured, Henderson is not injured, Wijnaldum is not injured, Salah is not injured, Firmino is not injured, Mane is not injured.

“We have 16 injured, we have another two in the U21 and we have three in the U23. We have Lamela and Tanganga, and we have a list of 10 players. But is Lloris hurt? No. Alderweireld hurt? No. Dier hurt? No. Reguilon injured? No. Harry Kane hurt? No. Injured son? No. Lucas hurt? No. So where are the injuries?

“There are wounded. It is normal. James Milner is injured. Lamela is injured. All clubs have injuries from time to time. Liverpool have a great injury that is Van Dijk ”.

It was a classic Mourinho finish before the game with the Spurs boss also insisting that Liverpool will have an “unfair advantage” because fans will be allowed to enter Anfield.

Tottenham hosted two games with 2,000 supporters in White Hart Lane before the Government put London under Level Three restrictions due to rising rates of coronavirus infection, but Liverpool are one of the few clubs that still have allowed followers.

Mourinho added: “If you ask me, is it fair in terms of competition? I don’t think it’s fair because of course the team that has fans at home has a different intensity, has a different temperature, a different environment and that’s it. of course an advantage.

“I am very confused about this situation. One day Level three, another day Level two, another day 2000 at Tottenham Stadium and it’s the same as Accrington Stadium. There are too many contradictions, too many things that I don’t understand and I don’t want to get involved in that.

“I don’t think we can be selfish and say that London is in the third tier and Brighton is not, or Liverpool, Everton, they are not. I don’t think we should be selfish in saying, ‘I don’t have, you don’t have. You have. You’re lucky. And bad luck for us. But I’m not going to complain. “