Former Premier League shot-stopper Shaka Hislop has urged Jose Mourinho to look at the bigger picture ahead of picking Paul Pogba against Liverpool, even though he does not think whether the Frenchman plays will affect the result.

The Red Devils were handed a demoralising 2-1 defeat by Valencia on Wednesday during their final game in Group H of the Champions League.




Pogba, who returned to the starting eleven after not playing a part during the win over Fulham, struggled to make an impact despite clocking the full 90 minutes of the game.

The Frenchman has struggled for consistency so far this term and could even be at risk of being dropped again for the trip to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
 


Hislop, who enjoyed his best years at West Ham and Newcastle United in the Premier League, urged Mourinho to look at the bigger picture of the dressing room before deciding on picking Pogba in the starting eleven against Liverpool.

The former Hammers’ custodian also claimed that he cannot see Manchester United getting anything from the game whether or not Pogba is involved against Liverpool at Anfield.

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“I don’t see how Mourinho picks Paul Pogba to play against Liverpool”, Hislop said on ESPN FC following the Valencia game.

“You come off a good result, albeit against bottom of the table Fulham, but the bigger picture here for Mourinho is not what or if you can pick anything up at Anfield, it’s about what you say to the rest of the team.

“For all the complaints you have had about Pogba all season, a team goes out and wins convincingly one weekend, you put Pogba on the pitch and they lose to Valencia.

“Whether Pogba plays or not, I don’t see United getting anything out of this, but the bigger picture is the message that it sends to the rest of the dressing room in that ‘I don’t trust you, and never mind how much complaints I have about Pogba, never mind how much he strolls around the pitch, I’m going to pick him’.”

Manchester United are currently 16 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool and have struggled to meet expectations this season.