It's been a pretty gloomy pre-season for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United.

While Liverpool have spent heavily in the transfer market, the Red Devils have only added Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant to their ranks.

They're still in the market to sign a centre-back but the transfer window shuts today at 5pm.

And plenty of pundits have already written off Man United's title chances before the season has even commenced.

The Reds host Leicester City on Friday night in the first game of the 2018/19 Premier League season.

"We've classically been a counter-attacking type of side. The manager now wants us to try and take a bit more control of the game, to try and dominate possession a little bit more," Kasper Schmeichel told the club website.

"It's going to be difficult away from home at Manchester United, but it's something that we're going to have to be brave enough to try."

Shearer on Mourinho

Despite most experts saying the opposite, Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer has suggested that Mourinho's side will get closer to Manchester City this season.

Shearer suspects that Mourinho's media persona is very different to his training ground persona.

"Despite his current downbeat demeanour, it would be dangerous to write United or Mourinho off," wrote Shearer in his BBC column.

"We have only seen him when he has appeared in front of the TV cameras this summer and heard what he has told the media, and I suspect he will behave very differently on the training ground with his players.

"I am still expecting them to be very strong this season, and I actually think that, along with Liverpool, they will be a lot closer to Manchester City this time."

The Premier League's all-time top goalscorer could well be right - it's far too early to be writing off Man United.

Shearer added: "The spine of their side, with David de Gea, Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku is particularly strong, even before you get on to players like Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial.

"Their team is definitely already good enough to challenge champions Manchester City for the title, but can Jose get the best out them?

"And can they play in a style that can keep their fans happy?"

Do you see Man United challenging for the title season? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.