Amid managerial changes, Jose Mourinho plays familiar cards

“We are a football-playing side and Manchester United were more physical and stronger than we were with a lot of tall players. We need to be ready again for situations like this.”

So said Jurgen Klopp, a fellow who doesn't really do mind games - or at least, never admits to it. And anyway, this was the Liverpool boss being pretty honest: facing Jose Mourinho's well-drilled, combative Manchester United on Monday night was good practice for a weekend clash against Tony Pulis' West Brom.

Klopp was understandably and inevitably irritated by Mourinho's post-game comments in which he claimed Liverpool, which controlled the game and kept 65 per cent of possession in a laborious 0-0 draw, was “cautious.”

Mourinho has never been known for his subtlety and in one sense, given the ferocious derby atmosphere of the fixture, riling the quality of an in-form Liverpool's performance in their own backyard will be widely praised by some Old Trafford support.

But there was a touch of old dog, new tricks to both Mourinho's in-game and post-game behaviour. Wily as ever, he reverted to type on Merseyside. The plan was to stifle Liverpool and execute as many of his seven cornerstone principles as possible. In his excellent biography of Mourinho, author Diego Torres lists them:

dir="ltr">The game is won by the team who commits fewer errors.

Football favors whoever provokes more errors in the opposition.

Away from home, instead of trying to be superior to the opposition, it's better to encourage their mistakes.

Whoever has the ball is more likely to make a mistake.

Whoever renounces possession reduces the possibility of making a mistake.

Whoever has the ball has fear.

Whoever does not have it is thereby stronger.

In a Premier League season much anticipated for its clash of managerial minds, Mourinho's tried and tested ways contrast what the other heavyweight tacticians are doing. He frustrated Klopp on Monday. As dusty as it is, his strategy worked.

Still, amid rumours of Mourinho’s demise that are greatly exaggerated, those younger models  are bringing fresh methods and approaches to the table.

Pep Guardiola employed inverted fullbacks at Bayern Munich, for example, and watching that approach applied in the Premier League has been fascinating. The signing of Claudio Bravo and banishment of Joe Hart has been equally magnetic.

In England, the frenzied nature of the environment leads to constant short-termism. After a setback, the usual collection of gormless bigmouths step forward to cast judgement and stir the pot.

Here, Guardiola is steadfastly tying himself to age-old philosophies and promising no compromise on his long-term thinking while constantly attempting to evolve himself and his side.

Likewise, one can't ignore the intoxicating atmosphere since Klopp's arrival at Liverpool, where he has cultivated the high-octane game plan that was so successful for him at Borussia Dortmund. His use of fullbacks has changed (as evidenced by James Milner's fine-tuned role), there have been formation tweaks, he's swapped personnel and he still doesn't seem to have cracked the code. He will continue to think and adapt and not rest on his laurels.

Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham have been eye-catching with their high-pressing approach and a cadre of young, exciting players offering the balance of exciting counter-attack and disciplined defence.

And then there is Antonio Conte, whom Mourinho faces Sunday at Stamford Bridge. It's been solid if unspectacular since the Italian's arrival at Chelsea, but he seems to have made a breakthrough in pushing through a new style.

He has introduced a 3-4-3, albeit after a disastrous first half against Arsenal, and Chelsea has looked sharper since its introduction. Diego Costa and Eden Hazard have been steady and new signing N'Golo Kante immediately influential, while Victor Moses has enjoyed a career renaissance. The club is beginning to build momentum.

So as Mourinho prepares to lock horns with another vaunted new Premier League coaching arrival, it's yet another defining moment for him. The fact it's at his former employer adds another intriguing layer of subtext.

Will the grizzled grey of pragmatism frustrate and irritate yet another beacon of brightness? Or will the old dog get the runaround from the runt of the litter?