Jose Mourinho has fired the first shot across the bows towards rivals Liverpool as he said Jurgen Klopp has to win the Premier League this year after the club's massive outlay in the transfer market.
After watching United edge out AC Milan 9-8 in a penalty shootout in America, Mourinho turned his attention to their next pre-season opponents Liverpool, who they'll face on Sunday.
The Reds have splashed out over £170m this sumer bringing in Fabinho, Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alisson following on from signing Virgil van Dijk for £75m in January.
Liverpool are 7/2 second favourites to win the Premier League as a result, with United as big as they have been for some time as 7/1 shots to win the title.
Klopp was critical of United signing Paul Pogba for £89m so the turnaround has amused Mourinho - who says that there should be a demand for Liverpool to win the league after spending so much money.
"I think if you have the money, if you invest well, it is better than to have it in the bank. Because the interest rates are very low," Mourinho said.
"The problem is you have to invest well and honestly I think they did very well, because every player they bought are quality players. I'm happy for them."
Liverpool v Man Utd bets for 2018/19 (odds via Sky Bet)
- 7/4 - Liverpool to win their opening three Premier League games
- 7/2 - Man Utd to win their opening three Premier League games
- 2/1 - Pogba to score 10+ PL goals - 2/1
- 11/1 - Liverpool to finish in top two in Premier League & win the FA Cup
- 4/5 - Liverpool to finish higher than Man Utd
- Evens - Man Utd to finish higher than Liverpool
"And I'm also happy to smile (about Klopp's comments on Pogba) and to see that, you know, you can change your opinion and change as a person, it's funny.
"That's okay, but maybe this season finally you demand that they win. I think you have to be fair and now you have to demand (for Liverpool to win the league).
"You have to say the team, with the investments not just this season, last season, that you made in January, that you make now, because that will probably be the record for the Premier League this season, I can't see anyone else getting close to spending what they have.
"A team that was a finalist in the Champions League, you have to say you are a big candidate, you have to win."
Epic penalty shootout
United beat AC Milan in an epic penalty shoot-out in their International Champions Cup clash in Carson, California.
Alexis Sanchez's 12th-minute strike was cancelled out three minutes later by Suso and, after the game finished 1-1, the teams needed 26 penalties to separate them as the Red Devils prevailed 9-8.
Sanchez slotted a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma to open the scoring but Suso's clinical finish drew the Serie A side level.
Donnarumma and his replacement Pepe Reina both made excellent saves, while Fabio Borini hit the post at the other end as the match went to penalties with no further score.
Joel Pereira saved from Borini and Suso and then scored United's fifth penalty, Reina responding in kind to take it to sudden death.
It continued all the way back around to the first takers and Andreas Pereira and Ander Herrera each scored for a second time.
Milan's Franck Kessie, attempting to match Pereira's 'Panenka' finish, sent his second spot-kick over the bar to decide the game.