That’s the surprise claim of Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, who says Liverpool have become “tight and tense” of late.
The Reds take on their bitter rivals at Old Trafford this Sunday (2.05pm) in a massive showdown for their hopes of winning the Premier League title.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will go three points clear of title rivals Manchester City with a win with 11 games to go, while defeat would leave them behind the defending champions having been seven points ahead not so long ago.
Liverpool take on a United side far more confident and free-flowing than the one they brushed aside 3-1 at Anfield in December with a dominant victory, with the Red Devils winning 11 of their 13 games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Mourinho before Christmas.
And Merson thinks that Liverpool are actually playing the kind of blunt and ineffective football as Mourinho’s United were earlier this season after being held to underwhelming 1-1 draws with Leicester and West Ham over the past month.
Yet the former Arsenal midfielder insists Liverpool’s current problems are merely down to the pressure on the team to try and win the club’s first title in 29 years rather than deliberate tactics from their manager.
Discussing the gap between the two clubs, Merson said of United: “They are not as far behind as they were a few months ago, and not just in terms of points. I say that because of the way the two teams are playing now.
“Manchester United are playing with freedom and are playing relaxed football. Liverpool look tight and tense.
“They are playing a bit like Manchester United were playing! There are a lot of nerves in the Liverpool team. You don’t see that with United now.
“Liverpool have got to that because of the pressure, not because their manager is telling them to go out and not play. It’s swung around.
“When Liverpool get into scoring chances they are getting tense and snatching at shots. United are putting chances away; they don’t get loads of chances but they are finishing them.
“I don’t think United are a million miles away at the moment. The gap has closed.
“Over 38 games I am not sure, I think Manchester United need a few signings, but there isn’t a lot between the teams right now.”
Liverpool and United are separated by 14 points in the league table with the Merseyside outfit having only lost one league game all season.
But Liverpool have only won on two of their last 17 trips to United in all competitions since 2004 as they seek to make a statement in the title run-in.
Speaking after his side drew 0-0 with Bayern Munich on Tuesday night in the Champions League, Klopp said: “We have a massive game now, it’s true. Now we have to recover and prepare for Manchester United who are obviously in good shape as we all saw on Monday [vs Chelsea].
“I don’t think about it now, but I know it will come and we start preparing for that one. It’s another tough one, but that’s how it is at a top club.
“We play Bayern tonight, and then United on Sunday. That’s cool actually, but it won’t be easy of course.”