Solskjaer responds to claims he's 'tactically inept' before Liverpool showdown

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brushed off accusations that he is ‘tactically inept’ ahead of his side’s trip to rivals Liverpool.

United have a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League as they prepare to take on champions Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

It’s the club’s best position at this stage of the season since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and a victory at Anfield – which would be Liverpool’s first home defeat in nearly four years – would put United six points clear at the top.

Solskjaer’s critics have had to eat their words in recent weeks as the Norwegian has guided the club back to the summit of the table but some still persist with criticisms of his management, referring to him as a ‘PE teacher’.

However, Solskjaer has dismissed criticism over his tactics and says he is working on building strong foundations at Old Trafford, which are based on a consistent style of play.

‘I don’t really read or hear too much so if that’s the narrative then that’s alright with me,’ Solskjaer told Stadium Astro.

‘You know there’s a way of every single manager in the world that could sit out and find the best way to get a result in this game or any individual game. We’ve proven many times ourselves against Paris Saint-Germain a couple of times and in the big games you think ‘we should do that every time’ but the big thing for me is that we create a way that the players are comfortable with.

‘We [must] find a way of playing to go into every single game [so that] we’re confident on…this is what we’re going to do. Okay maybe you tweak it a little bit but we have to find a style that will give you results in the long run without having to change.

‘I think the best teams in the world that win things they trust themselves, they don’t chop and change ways of planning for every single one of them. Okay, maybe a change here and there but it’s also about the players performing to their capabilities and you see the players playing now – they’re playing really well.

‘It’s not always the great manager that wins games or the bad one that loses, it’s fine margins. We’re working on a way that the team will feel comfortable going into every game.’

Solskjaer has a number of selection dilemmas ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

Fred and Scott McTominay are expected to return to the starting XI, meaning Paul Pogba could miss out unless he’s selected from a left midfield position.

That would force mean one of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial or Edinson Cavani could miss out.

At the back, Eric Bailly is expected to partner Harry Maguire, meaning Victor Lindelof will be benched.

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