Deluded Solskjaer risks ridicule from fans as he says United made ‘great strides’ in Liverpool defeat

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER invited ridicule yesterday by claiming Manchester United took “strides forward” with Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool.

If losing to their arch rivals, on the cusp of a first league title for 30 years, was not bad enough for United fans, Solskjaer compounded their misery with his delusional take on the game.

Although United only lost 2-0 at Anfield, with the second goal coming in added time, they were outclassed by the champions-elect, with the gulf between the sides clear for all to see.

Ex-boss David Moyes was sacked within four weeks of saying United were “aspiring” to be like rivals Manchester City, and Solskjaer’s comments have put him in the firing line too.

The fact Solskjaer sees a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool as progress, despite the relentless brilliance of Jurgen Klopp’s side, shows how far expectations have been allowed to fall at Old Trafford.

“We’ve lost to Liverpool, a team that you all say are fantastic, and we have been in the game until the last kick of the ball,” said Solskjaer. “For me, that’s strides forward.

“Of course we’re disappointed losing the game, we don’t want to be behind them in the league, but there were signs that we are on the right track.”

Despite slumping to a seventh league defeat this season, United remain in the hunt for the final Champions League spot, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

But the Reds, who host Burnley tonight, are without Paul Pogba, Scott Mctominay and Marcus Rashford, while Victor Lindelof was sent home from training yesterday due to illness.

If Lindelof does not recover, Solskjaer will have to choose between Phil Jones or Eric Bailly – who has not played this season – to partner Harry

Maguire in central defence.

Rashford has 19 goals for United this season and Solskjaer said it was time for others to step up in his absence.

“We know Marcus is out for a few months and that will take its toll because we are stretched,” he said. “So someone has got to step up.

“If we find something in the transfer market, that might be one solution. But the best solution is the players stepping up, making sure they are ready and taking their chances, because we will create chances.”

Solskjaer’s former United team-mate Gary Neville has called for executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to be sacked for presiding over years of failure since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

But Solskjaer said: “For me, now is not the time to speak about recruitment. We’re looking to Burnley.

“We are always looking to improve the squad and to improve the club, but for my mind now is not the time, Gary, to start this discussion.”

On United’s failure to replace Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, Solskjaer added: “We knew we were a forward light when Romelu and Alexis went, but we have to make decisions there and then on what we believe in, and I stick with that.”