JOSE: WHY I STARTED WITH RASHFORD

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has explained why he selected Marcus Rashford for the big game against Liverpool.

Rashford's first Premier League start of 2018 yielded both goals in the sweet success against the Merseysiders and the boss later said it had been the youngster's performances behind closed doors, in training, that had earned him the right to a place on the left flank.

After making a real impact as a half-time substitute against Crystal Palace, the England international appears to be finding his top form again at a key stage of the season.

"He scored two goals in a big game against top-class opponents," said Mourinho. "Of course, he was fundamental. It's a good thing the first chance he had, he got it and he scored because I think, in the last two months, that was not happening with him.

"He was feeling that a little bit in terms of his self confidence. Today, he probably came in unexpected but we trusted him. We felt the game could be adapted to his qualities. It was because he was impressing a lot in training and, sometimes, that's the point. The media and the fans, in relation to the options, you are not on the training ground. You do not see what is going on and how well the players are training, how badly they are training.

"His self confidence, mood and the feeling with him was he was really improving a lot in the past few weeks. Against Palace, we were losing so I played him immediately at half-time. The feelings were positive today, to bring Alexis [Sanchez] to that [central] position so he could be a good link with [Romelu] Lukaku and also a way to stop [Emre] Can or [Jordan] Henderson, whoever was their no.6 choice, a little bit. 

"I thought Marcus's speed would be important. Also, with Anthony Martial injured, it was not even a doubt between one or another. It was a straight choice."

It will be an afternoon that lingers long in the memory for Rashford, who has come through the ranks with such devastating impact at the club.

"It was good for Marcus, good for us," Jose told MUTV. "I think it's special for him. Local boy, you know that better than me. A local boy, Academy boy, to score against Liverpool at Old Trafford is a special feeling for him.

"If he could choose to score goals against somebody, I am pretty sure he would choose to score against Liverpool."