Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Solskjaer: We always want to take the initiative

Saturday 23 February 2019 22:30

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has outlined his belief that Manchester United should always look to take games to the opposition, ahead of Sunday's mouthwatering game against Liverpool.

Since Ole became caretaker manager, United have scored 30 goals in 13 matches in all competitions.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Solskjaer was asked about his approach for the visit of the Merseysiders and outlined that his natural instinct is to play attacking football.

"We always want to take the initiative," he told reporters at the Aon Training Complex. "I thought we started on the front foot against PSG but, then again, they took the initiative so we will go into this game wanting to dominate the game but, then again, we know their strengths.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says

"We always want to take the initiative. We will go into this game wanting to dominate the game but then again we know their strengths."

“We know they're going to be waiting for our mistakes and counter attack but then, if we drop back, they can dominate us.

“So we don't want to do that at Old Trafford, so we've just got to take that lead.”

Under Ole, United have raced out of the blocks in a number of matches to seize the initiative early on. When asked if a positive approach is always in his thinking, Solskjaer replied: “Well, that's always my first thought - to try to win the game. I've never gone into a game trying not to lose a game.

“Then again, as I'm saying, you're playing against 11 players as well and a team, so if we can do to Liverpool what we've done to a few teams now, I'll be very happy.

“If we have to play a different way, then the game itself decides that really, so the start is very important.”

You'll love Ole's views on the Liverpool rivalry Video

You'll love Ole's views on the Liverpool rivalry

“I've played in a few of these myself and I know the magnitude of it," said Solskjaer of the Liverpool rivalry...

Like many United fans, Ole sees the visit of arch-rivals Liverpool as our biggest - and it is one he is always most excited for.

“Always the first game you look to on the fixture list: at home against Liverpool.

“I actually came over [from Norway] and I was in the studio with Gary [Neville] and Jamie Carragher a few years back when David [De Gea] was unbelievable in goal. I think he made six or seven saves, and it was 3-0 in the end [in 2014]. It's the one game for everyone in Manchester.”

MUTV subscribers will be able to enjoy live build-up to United v Liverpool from 12:30 GMT on Sunday, ahead of kick-off at 14:05 GMT. 

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