MANCHESTER (England) -- Liverpool fans chanted "Ole Must Stick" at the end of their brutal 5-0 defeat of Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his Liverpudlian tormentors, gave them exactly what they wanted. He insisted that he was still the right man for the job at Old Trafford.
Man United 0-5 Liverpool : Social reaction
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Despite the fact that there were no United fans singing Solskjaer’s name during United’s worst-ever home loss against Liverpool, it was a notable absence. Solskjaer may believe he can still be successful, but he's beginning to sound like someone who is raging against the storm that is about engulfing him.
Jose Mourinho's United team lost 3-1 at Anfield in December 2018. The former Chelsea manager was fired within 48 hours. Although it was a terrible day at Anfield in December 2018, United suffered a much worse outcome. Solskjaer will survive to take over another game, but that is not because United can find a replacement.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, United's owners, the Glazer family have taken the time to replace their managers. After it became clear that the team was in a downwards spiral, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal were all fired. If Solskjaer is not removed, history will repeat itself.
Jurgen Klopp is a world-class coach and a leader with a top-class team. He rejected the opportunity to manage United in 2014 after Moyes was fired. It was evident at Old Trafford, as Liverpool defeated United. Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick to continue his remarkable run of form.
Klopp stated that the result was "incredible". I asked Klopp if there had been one similar in history. If there is, it will take some time. "The players contributed a great piece to the book."
Liverpool have a team of players that know what they're doing. They follow the coach's plan and execute it to the letter every time. Recent successes in the Champions League, Premier League and Champions League are testaments to Klopp's ability build winning teams.
Solskjaer said that his team had hit a "brick wall" over the past few weeks and is now drifting from one disappointing result to the next. He has become the object of ridicule by opposition supporters, who chant "Ole! Give us a wave!" as Liverpool played keepball in the final stages.
Solskjaer said that this day was one where everything could go wrong. After Bruno Fernandes had missed a clear opportunity to score on the opening minute, Liverpool took the lead via Naby Keita after the first display by his players of calamitous defense.
Half-time was 4-0. United's defense failed to improve. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw collided in a funny attempt to stop Liverpool scoring the second goal.
Even after Salah made it 5-0 in the second-half Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to score a consolation goal. This prompted further mocking from Liverpool's fans. Substitute Paul Pogba was sent out (again following a VAR review).
Although United's players could have made individual mistakes, it is too common for these errors to be accidental. While top teams don't make the exact same mistakes over and over, United appears to be stuck in a cycle of incompetence under Solskjaer. They have only one clean sheet in their last 21 matches.
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United have lost five out of nine games in all competitions, and only one point in the Premier League. They have won three times during that stretch -- a 2-1 win at West Ham after a stoppage time penalty missed by the home team, a 2-1 win against Villarreal with a Cristiano Cristiano Ronaldo goal just five minutes into extra time, and Wednesday's 3-1 win against Atalanta. This was after United trailed 2-0 at the half-time break due to a poor start to the game.
United wins in a chaotic fashion, but it doesn't seem that way when they lose.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must get results quickly if he wants to keep his Manchester United job. Getty
Solskjaer has been in charge of the team for three years and says that his team is close to reaching their destination, whatever it may be.
When asked if he had any doubts about his ability to do the job, he replied, "I have come far too, we have come far as a team and we are too close now to give up now." "I believe in myself, and I'm close to getting the club what it wants."
The time will tell. United's 135million spending spree on Jadon Sáncho, Raphael Varane, and Ronaldo has not done much to improve the side. It is hard to pinpoint any player who has improved under Solskjaer.
Klopp has many Liverpool players who have become world-class performers. Salah is an obvious example.
The Glazers believe Solskjaer is still the man. However, if Solskjaer remains in control for the next games, it is hard to see where wins are coming from. Next up, Atalanta and Tottenham are away games. Next home game? Only the minor matter of champions and neighbours Manchester City.
Things could get worse for Manchester United before they get better.
