Gary Neville admits pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is 'intolerable'

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has admitted the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hitting 'intolerable' levels in some corners, but expects the club to stick by their manager in the wake of their dismal 5-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Red Devils were all at sea during the fixture at Old Trafford, with Mohamed Salah running riot with a hat trick while Naby Keita and Diogo Jota also got on the scoresheet.

Solskjaer has had his critics ever since he became United's permanent manager but this latest defeat, with the squad he has at his disposal and against their most bitter rivals, has hit hard.

Neville said on Sky Sports: "The pressure after this game is going to be intolerable in some quarters.

"The board have made everyone aware that they are steadfast in their support of the manager and that he stays. Results like this undermine that, there's no doubt. This is sobering.

"Manchester United need to change. I believe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to get the opportunity to change. But there is going to be pressure from every source."

United managed to scrape to victory against Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek having fallen two goals behind, but there was never a whiff of the same result occurring on Sunday as Jurgen Klopp's visitors overawed their hosts time and time again.

"This is a monstrous day for Man Utd," Neville added. "That's going to put an enormous amount of pressure on the board. The fans haven't turned on the manager in the ground - they never will. But they know that's not acceptable. Something has to change in that dressing room and with this coach and it's got to change very quick.

"Three years ago I didn't think the group was great, I thought there were three or four players who were probably mercenary. I think at least the group represents the club more and I think the manager represents the club more.

"There'll be a massive outcry from fans and media that Ole should be sacked and I can understand that after that game. It was a monstrously bad day and it takes some recovery from. But I think this club is a lot more stable in terms of the ownership - I think now might be the time for them to communicate with the fans if they're going to back the manager for the next six to eight months, which I think they will."

For more from Jude Summerfield, follow him on Twitter!