Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho downplays Liverpool rivalry

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has downplayed the rivalry between his side and Liverpool ahead of their meeting at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Portuguese coach said that he does not view the Reds as a "special" opponent and is more focused on gaining points in the race for second place than securing bragging rights.

"I still don't know because in my mentality every match is the same and I'm not very good on that culture of this rivalry is special, that match is special," Sky Sports News quotes Mourinho as saying.

"I've never been very good at it, I never looked to AC Milan has the biggest rival, I never looked to Atletico Madrid as the enemy, I never look to Spurs or Arsenal as the big rival.

"For me, is just a big match two historical clubs not just in England but the world and in this moment important points for top four, important points for second, but I still don't look to some matches as special opponents, it's just a big match because we are speaking about two big clubs."

United head into the match in second place in the table, two points ahead of Liverpool directly below them.