While a match has a pulse, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Man United will still believe

These are wild and edgy times for the United manager. The Premier League table does not look too bad for him and it would be pretty good if he could plot a way past Liverpool at Old Trafford tomorrow

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo after his late winner against Atalanta. Picture: Dave Thompson/AP

IT was the moment that ignited Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s reputation, not just as a Manchester United supersub but as the provider of dramatic, late goals that made a difference. It was January 1999, Old Trafford was in a frenzy after Dwight Yorke’s 88th-minute equaliser against Liverpool in an FA Cup fourth-round tie and the board had gone up for stoppage time.

Solskjær, on as an 81st-minute replacement for Gary Neville, saw Paul Scholes reach a flick ahead of Jamie Carragher and nudge the ball towards him. The Norwegian was on the right side of the area, level with the penalty spot and he looked like the calmest person in the stadium, taking two touches to create the space and angle before
firing low past David James to win it.