Manchester United’s 4-1 defeat to Liverpool really isn’t as bad as it seems.Liverpool are further along in their preparations for the new season and Jose Mourinho named a young side.Axel Tuanzebe, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Demetri Mitchell were among the starters.Against a Liverpool attack that included Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, it was always going to be a struggle.Mourinho’s team will be more competitive when Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and David de Gea are among the starters.The Portuguese is hopeful that more signings will be made before the transfer window shuts.As for Anthony Martial, Mourinho expressed his disappointment that the winger hasn’t returned to United’s pre-season tour following the birth of his second child.

Mourinho's bizarre post-match comments

“He should be here... and he is not here,” the Man United boss said.

Mourinho’s post-match press conference was just incredible, and suggested a manager who simply isn’t ready for a new season.

Perhaps the most bizarre were about the referee and his assistants, who awarded Liverpool two penalties.

"The referees were called by the baseball federation, they thought it was a baseball game and they had to deal with a soccer game,” he said.

Erm, what?

As excuses go, that’s certainly among the most bizarre that Mourinho has come up with.

His comments after the match reflected someone who is clearly not happy with how the summer has gone.

"I would like two more players,” Mourinho said.

“I don't think I will get two. I think I will get one.

“I gave a list of five. I wait to see if we get one."

If it is true that Mourinho asked for five players then he has a right to be frustrated.

While Liverpool have enjoyed an impressive spending spree, the Red Devils have signed two players - Diogo Dalot and Fred.

Given how far ahead Manchester City were last season, and Liverpool’s spending this summer, that’s just not enough.

Pogba, Lukaku and De Gea’s returns will improve the situation but the early outlook for this season is pretty bleak.