Jose Mourinho may be unwilling to admit it, but Manchester United miss Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman has been out of action since mid-September but because his teammates kept winning without him, Mourinho insisted his absence wasn't a problem.

However, following Saturday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool, he might have changed his tone.

United were desperately poor at Anfield and lacked creativity, with Romelu Lukaku starved of service throughout the 90 minutes.

Had Pogba been there that may not have been the case. Say what you want about the 24-year-old, but he's one of those players capable of producing a moment of magic instantaneously.

"We never miss the players that are injured," was what Mourinho said after beating Crystal Palace 4-0. "That's our way of seeing [it].

"They are injured, we don't think about them. It's an opportunity for others, is a moment for others to step up and to get the chance, so I think that's good.

"When we moan all the time about injuries it looks like we don't trust the other people and we have to."

Nemanja Matic will certainly be missing having Pogba alongside him, as will Ander Herrera, because they're both defensive players.

The trio have an excellent understanding in the heart of United's midfield and complement each others' style of play.

If only that were the case for the France national team, too.

Speaking ahead of this week's Champions League fixtures, Mourinho was inevitably asked about Pogba's recovery from his hamstring injury and somehow got to talking about France.

And according to the Portuguese, there is one France player that Pogba doesn't like playing with: Juventus' Blaise Matuidi.

"He (Pogba) can make football history," Mourinho said. "He has talent. We (Manchester United) have the balance in midfield to occupy space better.

"With Blaise Matuidi in the France team, I think he isn't happy."

Mourinho did give an update on Pogba's return, albeit a small one: "I do not know when he will be back but it will not be tomorrow."

So, Pogba is unhappy about playing alongside Matuidi, which Mourinho thinks is down to the France national team lacking "balance" in midfield.

And perhaps he's right. At United, Pogba has Matic and Herrera, who both have different styles to him, whereas Matuidi is cut from the same cloth.