The pressure on the Norwegian manager reached new levels
Saturday after the team’s latest Premier League setback, a dispiriting 4-1 loss
to struggling Watford.
The result was bad enough but the performance was so
lackluster — even before two late goals padded the scoreline for Watford — that
it left Solskjaer’s future in in serious doubt, with United dropping to seventh
place in the standings.
Unlike United, Chelsea showed again that it’s a genuine
title contender this season by consolidating its lead atop the standings with a
3-0 win at Leciester.
Liverpool was playing Arsenal later in the marquee matchup
of the day.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard started his reign as
Aston Villa manager with a 2-0 win over Brighton, while his predecessor Dean
Smith saw his new team Norwich climb out of last place with a 2-1 home win
against Southampton.
Solskjaer has been able to ride out previous stretches of
underperformance, in part because of his popularity with fans — whose chants of
“Ole’s at the wheel” used to be a display of confidence in the former striker’s
ability to turn United back into a title challenger. However, that line is now
chanted with glee by opposing fans whenever United struggles — which is
increasingly often.
This was United’s fifth loss in their last seven Premier
League games — the previous two coming to biggest rivals Liverpool and
Manchester City.
This one could have been even worse, but Ismaila Sarr missed
two chances to convert an early penalty — both of them saved by David De Gea —
after the first was retaken because of encroachment.
Joshua King still put Watford ahead in the 28th and Sarr
made amends by netting the second just before the halftime break for Claudio
Ranieri’s team.
Solskjaer responded by making two halftime substitutions —
including bringing on the little-used Donny Van De Beek, who has struggled to
get chances under the Norwegian since signing for United last year. The Dutch
midfielder responded by pulling a goal back in the 50th after being set up by
Cristiano Ronaldo.
United captain Harry Maguire was then sent off for a second
yellow card after a clumsy challenge in the 69th, with Ronaldo having an
equalizer ruled out for offside shortly afterward. Watford then added two goals
in injury time to complete the rout.
New Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who tested positive for
the coronavirus on Friday, had to watch from home as his team twice came from
behind to draw 3-3 with newcomer Brentford.
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