PEP MIGHT RUN UP A CRICKET SCORE

IF Manchester United play like this against City, then Pep Guardiola’s side could run up a cricket score. City thumped their rivals 6-1 at Old Trafford in 2011 and it could be even worse on Wednesday night. United were comprehensively beaten yesterday by an Everton team who a week earlier were played off the park by relegated Fulham. As bad as this was, now is not the time to rush to blame Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. United’s April slump only highlights how much he overachieved after arriving in December. He restored confidence to a team that had lost all belief under Jose Mourinho. Had the season started when Solskjaer took over, United would be third in the Premier League, only four points worse than Manchester City, and nine points clear in a Champions League place. The improvement under Solskjaer masked the club’s shambolic recruitment over the last five years. What crushing defeats by Barcelona and now Everton have exposed is that this squad needs major surgery. As painful as this hammering by Everton must be for the United fans, it could yet prove to be a blessing in disguise.