The fixture list may have been unkind to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. After his darkest day as Manchester United manager comes a reminder of the second worst. United’s 5-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday brought comparisons with their 6-1 loss to Tottenham last season. Now it is Spurs again.
But Solskjaer generated a response last autumn: United won 4-1 at Newcastle the following game before beating Paris Saint-Germain in France three days later. Their April rematch with Tottenham ended up in a 3-1 triumph in London. The Norwegian often follows lows with highs. He has seven points from a possible nine at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A man who invariably references United’s past must hope history repeats itself on Saturday.
But the scrutiny on his position will extend to his decision-making after everything backfired against Liverpool. Solskjaer may be in the strange position of having a huge and expensive squad, but few compelling options where he needs them most. Most of Solskjaer’s attempts at solidity have been based on the twin axes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in the heart of defence and Scott McTominay and Fred in the middle of midfield. Each felt fundamentally broken by Liverpool.
But Eric Bailly is trusted so little by Solskjaer that he rushed back a clearly unfit Maguire at Leicester. Solskjaer must hope that Raphael Varane, who has resumed training, is fit to start. If not, he may have to persevere with the same pair of centre-backs. Minus the suspended Paul Pogba to change the dynamic in midfield, the chances are that ‘McFred’ will be retained and Solskjaer will stick with his favourites. Perhaps United’s hopes of greater frugality entails relying on an underachieving Spurs side who failed to muster a shot in the second half against West Ham.
But it will be instructive if Solskjaer switches shape. He used to be more tactically flexible, but has played 4-2-3-1 in every league game since January. But then a 4-4-2 diamond helped congest the centre of the pitch to secure a stalemate at Anfield. Solskjaer’s other alternative was the 3-4-1-2 deployed in last year’s win in Paris. Each is built around a No 10, suiting Bruno Fernandes. A problem for a star-studded squad overloaded with attackers is that each features one fewer forward than 4-2-3-1. If the assumption is that Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo start, that leaves a solitary position for Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard to contest.
Man United v Liverpool ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 4 - Conceded now in 13 consecutive home games for United – not that he could do much about the five which past him. A chocolate fireguard would have offered more protection. Good save from Alexander Arnold after 70. EPA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 3 - Left his man to try and retrieve the ball before Liverpool’s opener. Didn’t. And from there things got even worse. Booked – one of seven United players to get a card on a day of frustration. EPA -
Victor Lindelof 3 - Another in the wrong position for the opener for the most jittery start from United. Ball bounced off him before Liverpool’s third. Booed off at half time with the rest of his teammates by a support who otherwise sang until the end. No wonder several of the players apologised. EPA -
Harry Maguire 2 - Adrift as Liverpool cut United’s defence open from the start and tangled with Shaw for the second as Liverpool went 2-0 up after 13. Things got even worse and he’s having an awful time of it. Booked. Getty -
Luke Shaw 3 - Stranded for Liverpool’s opener. Shot wide from distance after 21, but, like the rest of the defenders, he was all over the place as a far superior Liverpool passed the ball around them. EPA -
Fred 3 - Lovely ball to Ronaldo after three minutes. And that was the highlight as his side were thrashed. Booked. Not even fair to compare him to someone as influential as Jordan Henderson today. Had little time on the ball against a side who never stopped hunting the ball down. EPA -
Scott McTominay 3 - Ran back to dispossess Salah after eight minutes. Does he really want to be reminded of anything after that as Liverpool completely dominated? Headed ball down to set up Cavani after 83. The game was so far gone, there was barely a reaction when the ball went in the net. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes 3 - Skied a third minute shot over. Wasted. Often frustrated, too often argumentative. Booked for this on an afternoon which became deeply embarrassing for the home team. AP -
Mason Greenwood 4 - Was up for it from the start, intercepting a Liverpool attack. Then they scored twice. Shot tested Alisson after 28, but what else can you say about a player on a side which was 4-0 down at half-time for the first time in 31 years? AP -
Marcus Rashford 3 - Lively start and got away from Kieta to shoot wide from 25 yards. But lost in the hideous muddle which developed and for which no words can make up. EPA -
Cristiano Ronaldo 3 - Another who skied a shot early on. Put the ball in the net after 53 with a superb shot, but it was offside. Booked. He’s hugely frustrated – and hugely influential. And that could be a blessing and a curse for United. AP -
SUBS: Paul Pogba 2 - On for Greenwood at HT. Dived in for a challenge with Keita on 58 and was sent off. He should have known far better. AP -
Edinson Cavani 3 - On for Fernandes after 61 as Liverpool fans sang ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ and ‘Ole give us a wave.’ It was that bad. A deflected shot hit the crossbar after 83. EPA -
Diogo Dalot 3 - On for Rashford after 61 as Liverpool fans chanted ‘Ole must stay’ while the speculation about United’s manager skyrocketed. AP -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 8 - The Brazilian foiled Greenwood and Ronaldo in the first half and was a model of composure. He distributed the ball with his usual aplomb. Getty -
Trent Alexander-Arnold 8 - The 22-year-old was supposed to be the target for Ronaldo and Rashford but was comfortable throughout. He ranged forward at will and supplied the cross for Jota’s goal. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate 8 - The Frenchman got sucked into midfield and went to ground early on but he soon found his feet. He was excellent in the air and strong on the ground. EPA -
Virgil van Dijk 8 - The Dutchman was completely at ease. He oozed class. It is hard to believe that Maguire was a more expensive signing. EPA -
Andrew Robertson 8 - The Scot’s passing was a little inconsistent but he worked the line well. He made himself available as an outlet ball and got better as the game went on. Getty -
Jordan Henderson 8 - The captain was efficient in possession and adapted nicely to the defensive midfield role. His pass for Salah’s hat-trick was splendid. Getty -
James Milner 7 - The 35-year-old limped off injured after 27 minutes but his workrate and appetite were illustrated when he was queuing at the back post behind Jota for a chance to score the second goal. Reuters -
Naby Keita 9 - This was the 26-year-old’s best game for the club. He scored, helped set up two goals and broke up United attacks. He was carried off in the 64th minute after a horrible challenge by Pogba. Getty -
Mohamed Salah 10 - The Egyptian’s pass for the opening goal was wonderful but what followed was exceptional. He tormented United and was rewarded with a hat-trick. AFP -
Roberto Firmino 8 - The Brazilian’s movement and intelligence bemused the defence. He helped create the fourth goal before being replaced by Mane in the 77th minute. EPA -
Diogo Jota 8 - The Portuguese caused havoc down the left. He scored the second goal and set up another for Salah. Getty -
SUBS: Curtis Jones 7 - The 20-year-old replaced Milner in the 27th minute and was given some rough treatment by Ronaldo and Fernandes but never let it affect his game. Getty -
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 - The 28-year-old joined the action in the 64th minute when Keita was injured. He was effective on and off the ball as Liverpool cruised towards the final whistle. AFP -
Sadio Mane 6 - The Senegalese was introduced for Firmino with 13 minutes left. He was desperate to score and was perhaps a little too greedy. Reuters
It may be harder to configure a diamond without Pogba, though using Nemanja Matic at the base could permit Solskjaer to play three defensive midfielders. Or a three-man defence offers the possibility of safety in numbers; perhaps Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pace could equip him to excel in the role on the right of a three that Kyle Walker sometimes plays for England, while Luke Shaw has been tucked in on the left of a trio by Solskjaer before. Given the left-back’s struggles against Mohamed Salah last week, he may appreciate the presence of Alex Telles outside him. Otherwise, there is a case for dropping Shaw, one of the success stories of Solskjaer’s management.
But part of the problem is that inasmuch as United’s squad was built for any shape, it is for 4-2-3-1. Certainly a shape with two wider strikers who have responsibility for tracking full-backs may not suit Ronaldo. As it is, United’s wide men have tended to show too little attention to their defensive duties, leaving Fred and McTominay isolated and outnumbered. Solskjaer’s best strategy may be to order his wide men back, revive his counter-attacking blueprint, defend deeper in two blocks of four and spring breaks as the man who completed United’s greatest comeback seeks to revive his own fortunes.
