The pressure is growing on Manchester United FC manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, ahead of Saturday’s tricky trip to Everton FC.
Solskjaer’s reign at Manchester United has been characterised by extreme highs and lows, but a loss at Goodison Park will raise serious questions about the Norwegian’s future at the club.
Two weeks ago, Manchester United impressively won away at Paris St.-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League and followed up that victory with a 5-0 crushing of RB Leipzig at Old Trafford.
But a lacklustre 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, which left Manchester United winless at home in the league this season, was followed by a 2-1 loss at Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday.
After the game in Turkey, Solskjaer laughed off speculation from pundits, such as former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane, that his players might end up costing him his job.
“I decline to comment on such a thing,” Solskjaer said. “Of course, it’s early on and opinions are out there all the time.
“You’ve got to stay strong. I’m employed by the club to do a job and I do that to the best of my ability with my staff.”
Manchester United have not beaten Everton in their last three meetings, a run which includes a 4-0 hammering in April 2019.
The game led Solskjaer to decide on the subsequent sale of several members of the squad he inherited from Jose Mourinho.
Everton’s good start to the season has lost its momentum with two straight defeats for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodriguez missed last week’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United but Ancelotti is hoping he will be fit for the Manchester United clash.
Manchester City and leaders of Liverpool would both go into Sunday’s game after good wins in the UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp will be hoping, however, that Joel Matip is back from injury to add his experience to a central defence without the injured Virgil van Dijk.
Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara could also be back from injury as Liverpool look to open up an eight-point lead over the Manchester City team.
Manchester City’s options have been boosted by the return to fitness of striker Gabriel Jesus, who came off the bench to score against Olympiakos Piraeus in midweek.
Second-placed Leicester City has an appetising Midlands derby with sixth-placed Wolves on Sunday.
