THEATRE OF BROKEN DREAMS Ince: United fans haven’t been entertained at Old Trafford for years and they’ve lost their passion. It’s not the club I know or what it stands for

cannot go to AZ Alkmaar and fail to register a shot on target.

“They only created three chances at Newcastle – and didn’t score.

“That’s not the Manchester United I know. Not what the club stands for.

“So this game against Liverpool is so important for the relationship between the fans, the team and Ole.

“They will be forever grateful to him for the Champions League final comeback in 1999. But he is judged as manager now, not player.

“I don’t want to see Ole sacked but if he’s not careful the crowd will start getting on the players’ backs. I don’t think it will happen against Liverpool, but patience will only stretch so far.

“And, from the fans I speak to, I don’t think that patience is far from breaking now.”

Ince says he has sympathy with the options Solskjaer has at his disposal to improve the goals output, but insists the current situation was entirely avoidable.

He added: “It was quite clear at the end of last season there were going to be issues up front. “Romelu Lukaku was clearly on his way out, Alexis Sanchez likewise.

“As a manager, you can’t rely on Anthony Martial because he’s injured as often as not. Marcus Rashford got 11 goals last season and has been handed a £200,000-aweek contract because they haven’t got anyone else.

“I think Marcus is a talented boy – personally, I like him coming in off the left – but you’re asking a lot to hit that 20-goal-a-season mark with the players around him.

“Liverpool, Arsenal, City, even Chelsea, all look like they have at least one player who is going to reach that figure.

“Ole needs to find a solution to that – and soon – because, if he doesn’t, he will find it could all unravel very quickly.”