Solskjaer says Man Utd must come out fighting after Liverpool blow

AFP / Fabrice Coffrini

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his team's first half capitulation against Liverpool was like a boxer being punched out in the opening minutes of a bout and sought a strong response from them.

Solskjaer came under intense criticism following United's shocking 5-0 Premier League defeat by Liverpool last Sunday - a game in which his team let in four goals in the first half to leave supporters at Old Trafford stunned.

"The performance wasn't acceptable. It felt like we were a boxer being punch drunk and knocked down in the first minutes, first round," Solskjaer told reporters ahead of Saturday's meeting with Tottenham Hotspur in London.

"You see Tyson Fury when he gets knocked down a couple of times, it's remarkable how calm and composed he is on the floor, counts to six, seven, eight, and he gets up and goes again. We got up too early and tried to sort it."

Solskjaer, whose seventh-placed side are without a victory in four league matches and have conceded nine goals in their last two defeats, said that he was in touch with the United board but did not seek assurances about his job.

"When you have a performance and a spell like we've had, that's not what I ask for," Solskjaer added. "My job is to put things right, and that's what I'm trying to do."

More from Sports News

On Virgin Radio today

  • Non Stop Hits

    2:00am - 8:00am

    The UAE's #1 Hit Music Station with no interruptions

  • The Weekend Breakfast

    8:00am - 11:00am

    Playing 10 hits in a row every hour, all weekend!

Trending on Virgin Radio

  • If Craig David had a verse on Azizam

    The legendary Craig David joins The Kris Fade Show for an unforgettable chat!

  • Untold Dubai

    It arrived: The UAE's First Mega Music Festival at Expo City Dubai!

  • Middle East Hot 30

    Every weekend Kris Fade plays the biggest tracks in the Middle East. Check out this weeks chart...

  • ARN News Centre

    Get the latest UAE and world news from our award winning team of journalists. The ARN News Centre is the country's most trusted source of information.