Jose: We need points against Newcastle

The Reds have not won at home since the opening night of the season against Leicester City in August. The four-match streak at Old Trafford since that 2-1 win against the Foxes has brought a defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and draws with Wolves, Derby County - a result that led to United exiting the Carabao Cup on penalties - and Valencia, who ground out a goalless stalemate in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Last Saturday's Premier League defeat against West Ham has left the Reds in 10th place in the table and the manager knows a return to victories is vital to spark a recovery.

“I know we are at the beginning of October and in many of the league tables around Europe in September and October, they don't reflect what is going to happen a few months later or at the end of the season,” said Mourinho at his pre-Newcastle match press conference.

“We are in a position that we can do much better than that and to do that we need points. Especially after the points we lost in the last two Premier League matches with one point out of six. We know that to improve that position we need to win these three points [against Newcastle United]."

Turning to talk of Saturday's visitors to Old Trafford, Mourinho said:

"We know that our opponents, for different reasons, also need the points. They have a very, very, very good coach (Rafa Benitez).

"They are a team that is always very well organised, especially against the teams in the first part of the table, where their manager is very bright in his analysis of the opponents' qualities and trying to stop them. The results they had against the top teams didn't get them points yet this season, but they gave them very close results and very difficult matches for the opposition. So, we expect that. We expect a difficult match.

“We have only had one defeat at home all season, and only one defeat in the last seven matches, but we have not had victories at home. In the past three matches, we have had three draws, not with the feeling of a defeat, but also not with the happiness of a victory.

"So yes, it's important for us to try to win this match."