Manchester United vs. Liverpool: What has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer changed since the last meeting? | Football News



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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had a transformative impact on Man Utd since his last meeting with Liverpool. We examine what he did ...

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had a transformative impact on Man Utd since his last meeting with Liverpool. We examine what he did …

Manchester United's 3-1 loss to Liverpool in December was Jose Mourinho's final match. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had a transformative impact ever since, but as United prepares for the second leg against former rivals at the Super Sunday, what exactly has changed?

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February 24, 2019, 1 pm

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Positivity

In January, Paul Ince did a disservice to Solskjaer when he suggested to any manager to provoke a turnaround at Manchester United after the drift and disagreement of Mourinho's mandate. But if the improvement is not limited to a simple arm around the shoulder, it is certain that a little positivity has come a long way.

The atmosphere had become toxic under Mourinho, whose harsh behavior did not help him, but Solskjaer found the right notes from the moment he went into the place. The Norwegian was an immensely popular figure at the club as a player and it's the same story now.

One of his first priorities was to restore the morale of the team.

One of the first priorities of Solskjaer was to restore the morale of the team.

One of the first priorities of Solskjaer was to restore the morale of the team.

"It's man-made," he said at his first press conference. "I had the best manager as a player and trainer to learn how he was treating people.It's a communication issue.I am going to sit with those who do not play, what I'm "When you are at Man United, there are certain requirements – and one of them is to be part of the team."

Solskjaer managed to shoot him. The chains were released and the resumption of the form was immediate, starting with the fight Cardiff City 5-1 before Christmas. As he would say later Sky sportsit was about restoring the offensive identity of the club. The fans loved it and the players too.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that he found it easy to manage his players at Manchester United because they were "hungry" to reach their full potential.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that he found it easy to manage his players at Manchester United because they were "hungry" to reach their full potential.

"I think you can see from the outside how much he has changed things in such a short time," said Luke Shaw. Sky sports. "He's a really positive manager, he knows what the club needs and what the fans want in the way we play." He brings this fast-paced and offensive game back to Old Trafford, and I'm sure fans will appreciate it as much. that we. "

Manchester United went to Anfield with little hope of getting a result in December, but the mood and momentum changed as they prepare for welcome them to Old Trafford.

Pogba unleashed

No player has benefited so much from the arrival of Solskjaer as Paul Pogba.

The midfielder of France was an unused substitute that day at Anfield. His relations with Mourinho seemed irretrievably broken, but he was almost always present under Solskjaer and he will take center stage. Super Sunday. According to recent evidence, Jurgen Klopp should be worried.

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Highlights of Manchester United's 3-0 win over Fulham =

Highlights of Manchester United's 3-0 win over Fulham =

Solskjaer released Pogba, giving him the freedom of attack that had been denied him by Mourinho, and the results were spectacular. In nine appearances in the Premier League, and with Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera following behind him, there were eight goals and five badists.

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Its elimination in the defeat of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain has slowed its momentum, but its suspension does not extend to the national competition and there is no doubt that it benefited from the approach of Solskjaer .

"I play a little further, I have more security behind me, it gives me the freedom to go from the front to try to get into the box and support the strikers." "said Pogba recently. "It's a pleasure to play again, it's normal, now I'm still smiling."

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Manchester United striker Anthony Martial wants Acting Chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to get the job on a permanent basis

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial wants Acting Chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to get the job on a permanent basis

Solskjaer, who previously worked with Pogba in the United Academy, also took a totally different personal approach. Instead of condemnation, there was encouragement. And stripped of his post as vice-captain under Mourinho, Pogba has even been touted as a future captain.

"He's a character, he influences people, he cares and he really wants to succeed," said Solskjaer last month. "I know him from before and when he's having fun, he brings so many good things.He knows that he can not do it alone.He knows it's a game from the team, but you can see the personality, you can see what win the World Cup was for him, so for me, yes, he is captain. "

Return of the counterattack

Solskjaer spoke at length about his determination to restore the identity of the club during his interview with the public. Sky sports earlier this month.

The counter-attack came back strongly under Solskjaer

The counter-attack came back strongly under Solskjaer

"In the way we play with pace and power, we should never forget our history of counter-attacks, even if we are part of the teams that want to dominate the matches," he said. "If the teams go down deep, we have to be able to face them, but we also defend when we defend to win the ball and counterattack quickly."

The counterattack came back emphatically. According to Opta's definition, United has only recorded three "fast pbades" in its first 17 games of the Premier League season under Mourinho, but there have been 11 out of nine matches under Solskjaer. It's a radical change that takes them from the bottom of the Premier League standings to the top.

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Wes Brown thinks Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves to be named permanent Manchester United manager at the end of the season

Wes Brown thinks Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves to be named permanent Manchester United manager at the end of the season

One wonders why Mourinho was so reluctant to use this tactic effectively before. In December, in Anfield, United held only 35% of goals and did not threaten the break. If the wounds of Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard strike a blow to Solskjaer's plans, recent evidence suggests that Liverpool could look forward to a very different match on Sunday.

"We want to take risks," added Solskjaer. "We want to aim for the second, third, and fourth goals because that's what we do at Manchester United, so if you can not handle that, you're in the wrong club."

Rashford rewarded

For the first time since his arrival in the team by Louis van Gaal in February 2016, Rashford enjoys a long time in his role as central hitter favorite. The 21-year-old was left of Mourinho midfielder Anfield in December. He spent more time in his half of the match than in Liverpool, but, like Pogba, he was released by Solskjaer.

Up to now, there have been six goals in nine Premier League games, including decisive goals against Leicester, Brighton and Tottenham. according to Sky sports Jamie Carragher, media specialist, Rashford could now position itself as a center-forward for the long run.

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After making his debut at Manchester United almost three years ago, we are looking at some of Marcus Rashford's best goals in the Premier League

After making his debut at Manchester United almost three years ago, we are looking at some of Marcus Rashford's best goals in the Premier League

"The form that he is in right now, if he continues, they will not need to buy anyone else or bring Romelu Lukaku to the side," he said. Carragher earlier this month. "He can be United's main man.

"I was on this ground [the King Power Stadium] see England against Switzerland and we wondered that night if Rashford could be that man. I was not sure, but what happened under the interim manager – we are talking about an audition for the manager, but Rashford can be the center forward of United and show that it's all right. he can be the man who will lead you to a title or a champions league. "

Stronger defense

Solskjaer improved Manchester United defensively and offensively. There is still a lot of work to be done there – the 2-0 defeat of Paris Saint-Germain reminds us – but United looks much more resilient and better organized than in the last game against Liverpool.

Individual performances were better, with Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and Eric Bailly among those who achieved impressive performances, and the statistics underline the overall improvement. After conceding 29 goals in 17 Premier League games under Mourinho, United has conceded only six goals out of nine under Solskjaer.

The shape of Victor Lindeloff has improved under Solskjaer

The shape of Victor Lindeloff has improved under Solskjaer

This is the result of giving less opportunities to their opponents. United went from 13.9 shots per game and 5.2 shots under Mourinho to 11.8 shots per game, against only 4.2 under Solskjaer.

United's defenders were also helped by Herrera and Matic's defensive thrusts in the middle of the field. The duo was excellent in front of the bottom line – it's no coincidence that United lost points in the only game they did not start together – break the game with energy and intelligence and also provide a flat in Pogba, Rashford and others to the front.

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