Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still Manchester United manager… for now.
Forget about previous results and performances, if any United manager loses 5-0 at home to Liverpool they are immediately under pressure.
As it turns out, the Norwegian already went into the clash with question marks hanging over him.
They had picked up just one point in their previous three Premier League matches while needing a second half comeback to scrape past Atalanta last Wednesday.
Liverpool demonstrated that Champions League victory was very much papering over the cracks.
They ran riot to go 4-0 ahead by half time before easing to a 5-0 victory.
It was humiliating for Solskjaer.
It wasn’t an immediate sacking for Ole. Instead, he will be given the next few matches - against Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City - to see if he can transform his side’s fortunes.
It seems unlikely given what we witnessed on Sunday.
So, who could replace him at Old Trafford?
Well, according to the odds, Antonio Conte is the outright favourite. Next comes Zinedine Zidane, Brendan Rodgers and Erik ten Hag.
Which manager would be best to sort out this mess?
Well, GIVEMESPORT have decided to be hypothetical and look at how the club could line-up next season under the four managers most likely to replace Solskjaer.
We’ve added a few realistic signings to each XI - although they are very much based on our speculation rather than anything concrete.
So, let’s take a look:
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Man Utd’s 2021/22 XI under Antonio Conte
Conte is currently favourite to be the next Manchester United manager and we reckon he’d employ his tried and tested wing-back formation.
That would result in Conte looking to sign a third centre-back - Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar to accompany Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire. Both Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly have failed to prove they're good enough to play consistently.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s lack of attacking quality means Conte may well turn to Kieran Trippier, who was linked to Man Utd in the summer.
Conte likes a solid midfield two and you certainly have that with Nemanja Matic and Fred. Matic played a key role in helping Conte’s Chelsea dominate the Premier League during the 2016/17 campaign.
The three up front include two players who haven’t been given too many opportunities at United this season in Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial. We back Conte to get the very best out of them. They flank striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Man Utd’s 2021/22 XI under Zinedine Zidane
We’ve also included Trippier in Zidane’s XI with the former Real Madrid manager fully aware of the right-back capabilities having seen him in La Liga.
Zidane is also a big fan of Paul Pogba and could be the only manager to arrive that will see the Frenchman stay. He was also interested in signing Donny van de Beek before Man Utd won the race so we think the former Ajax man would enjoy Zidane’s arrival. In a three-man midfield, Fred will provide the protection.
Bruno Fernandes would enjoy a bit more of a free role in the hole behind two serial goalscorers in Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani.
Man Utd’s 2021/22 XI under Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers is a very flexible manager and capable of playing a number of different formations. At United, we reckon he’d opt for a 4-2-3-1 - and include a double-swoop for two Leicester players.
First, we have Ricardo Perreira at right-back replacing Wan-Bissaka. Then, in midfield, United desperately need a player like Wilfried Ndidi, who would play in a midfield two with Van de Beek.
Greenwood, Fernandes and Sancho would all interchange and create a hatful of chances for Ronaldo up front.
Man Utd’s 2021/22 XI under Erik ten Haag
We think Ten Hag would make just one signing if he became United boss - bringing in the highly-rated Ryan Gravenberch to the club.
The 19-year-old is a defensive midfielder and would be expected to join Ten Hag at the Three of Dreams if he’s appointed as manager. The Dutchman would form a solid base with Scott McTominay. Like Rodgers, Ten Hag would have three players behind Ronaldo with Marcus Rashford getting the nod over Greenwood.
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