Solskjaer: Rashford best in the league

Premier league update

Manchester: Marcus Rashford is making a case to be considered the best striker in the Premier League, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 21-year-old scored his seventh goal in his last 10 games as Manchester United beat Brighton 2-1 to maintain Solskjaer’s perfect start as Old Trafford boss.

“You can argue for many strikers but I’m glad he’s in my team,” Solskjaer said. “Harry Kane is injured so maybe that gives him the best chance to be the best one at the moment.

“No one beats him on work-rate, no one beats him on attitude and he’s very confident in front of goal at the moment, he finishes, tries to shoot, he doesn’t think twice about it.

“I think he’s playing the best football in his career.”

Victory over Chris Hughton’s side took Solskjaer’s winning run to seven ahead of a trip to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Friday night.

Rashford’s fine solo goal made it 2-0 after Paul Pogba had scored his 10th of the season from the penalty spot. Pascal Gross pulled one back for Brighton in the second half to set up a nervy finish and Solskjaer admitted the final 20 minutes proved there is still room for improvement.

“We need to improve on quite a few things,” Solskjaer said. “Defensively, we need to find our shape better, towards the end like today, we need to defend better with the ball, OK, we’re under the cosh, winning 2-1, keep it away from them, let them run and try and get the ball.

“At times today we played some fantastic football and should have scored two or three in the beginning of the secondhalf.”

United face Arsenal, Burnley, Leicester and Fulham before title-challengers Liverpool visit Old Trafford on Feb.24. The nine straight victories under Jose Mourinho during the 2016-17 season is United’s longest run since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and Solskjaer has challenged his squad to pass it. “The gaffer [Ferguson] used to challenge us at times with ‘Why can’t you win 10 games on the bounce?’” Solskjaer said.

Score: Man Utd 2-1 Brighton

-ESPN FC loudly - and clearly - by his squad.

“I have to say that I’m extremely angry, very angry indeed,” a visibly frustrated Sarri said.

“This defeat was due to our mentality more than anything else, our mental approach. We played against a team which mentally was far more determined than we were. And this is something I can’t accept.

“We had a similar issue in the league game at Tottenham. We spoke a great deal about that loss and our approach at the time, and I spoke to the players, and I thought we’d overcome this issue.

“But it appears we still have this issue and we still seem to lack sufficient motivation and being mentally solid and our determination. So I’m not happy, I’m really not happy.

“I’d prefer to come in to the press room, be in the changing room and speak to the players and speak to you now, to talk about the tactics, about why we lost from a tactical point of view, but the fact of the matter is it appears this group of players are extremely difficult to motivate.” Score: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea

-BBC Sport