Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has heaped pressure on Jurgen Klopp by insisting that his opposite number must guide Liverpool to Premier League title success this season.
The Reds have splashed out over £250m on new players since the turn of the year, most recently making Alisson Becker the most expensive goalkeeper in the world following his £65m arrival from Roma.
Ahead of Saturday evening's high-profile friendly between the arch-rivals in Michigan, Mourinho has questioned whether finishing anything other than top of the table will lead to questions being asked of Klopp, who backtracked last week on previous comments made about spending big on players.
"I think if you have the money, if you invest well, it's better than to have it in the bank, because the interest rates are very low," he told reporters. "The problem is you have to invest well and, honestly, I think they did very well, because every player they bought are quality players and I'm happy for them.
"I'm also happy to smile and to see that, you know, you can change your opinion and change as a person - it's funny. But that's okay. But maybe this season, finally you demand that they win.
"You, I think, have to be fair and now you have to demand and say the team with investments you are making last season, that you made in January, that you make now, that will probably be the record of the Premier League this season, a team that was a finalist in the Champions League, you have to say you are a big candidate and you have to win."
Liverpool last lifted the top-flight crown in 1990 and have gone without silverware of any sort since winning the EFL Cup in 2012.
Daniel Lewis
