Jose Mourinho has indicated that Manchester United need to do much more than just match Liverpool in the transfer market to again challenge for the Premier League title.
Liverpool spent big money to sign Naby Keita, Alisson and Fabinho last summer and it added to the January window arrival of Virgil van Dijk on a world record fee for a defender from Southampton.
Manchester United only signed Fred on a big money deal and their other two additions were teenage full-back Diogo Dalot and third choice goalkeeper Lee Grant.
Mourinho wanted to spend big on a defender, but was not backed to land his targets.
Liverpool are now at the top of the league table with a 16-point lead over sixth-placed Manchester United, but Mourinho indicated that the money spent last summer is not the only difference between the two sides.
The Manchester United boss hinted that his side need to get their house in order in a lot of other areas before they can think about challenging for the title.
Asked if he felt Manchester United needed to match Liverpool’s spending last summer to compete for the title, Mourinho said in a press conference: “It is not just about spending money and reinforcing the squad.
“A football team is more than that, is not just about spending the money.
"It is like a house too, it is not just about buying the furniture, you have to do work, and you spend money on the best possible furniture
“And then you’re ready to live in an amazing house.”
Manchester United have not lost a league game against Liverpool since 2014.
