Ole Makes Long-Awaited Comeback

FA Barclays Premier Reserve League
Manchester United 0
Liverpool 2
Ewen Fields, Hyde

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer completed 45 minutes for the Reserves in his first
appearance in a United shirt since the 2004 FA Cup Final.

The Norwegian striker came through apparently unscathed and is likely to
figure for Rene Meulensteen's side in their next game, against Bolton
Wanderers on December 15

Ole's appearance couldn't inspire his side, however, and they slipped to
a first league defeat under Meulensteen's charge.

A mistake from Luke Steele allowed former United reserve Ramon Calliste
to put the visitors ahead after 10 minutes, before substitute Besian Idrizaj
headed a late clincher.

A crowd of 2,738 packed into Ewen Fields, roughly three times the average
gate for Reserve games - and the reason was Solskjaer's return.

United went into the game on the back of seven straight league wins, but
from the off never showed the cohesion that has become their signature under
Meulensteen.

After a slow start by both sides, Liverpool moved ahead through ex-Red
Calliste, who was released in the summer and promptly snapped up by the
Merseysiders.

Steele hesitated when coming to collect a back header from 16-year-old
debutant Craig Cathcart and could only fire against Calliste, who then
slid the ball into the gaping net.

The scrappy nature of the goal was symptomatic of the overall poor quality
of the game itself.

United were well below their usual standards and never found their rhythm,
while the visitors were content to just sit on their lead and rarely showed
any ambition for anything other than stifling United.

On the rare occasions United did pierce the Liverpool backline, they found
themselves thwarted by goalkeeper Paul Willis, who was excellent throughout.

The Northern Ireland youth international was on hand to deny Sylvan
Ebanks-Blake, Gerard Pique and Giuseppe Rossi in the second half with some
tremendous reflex saves.

While Meulensteen's side were frustrated time and again going forward,
Cathcart's assured debut in defence gave a definite silver lining to the
evening.

As United struggled in vain to find an equaliser, substitute Idrizaj rose
high above the home defence to head in a corner four minutes from time.

The defeat is United's first since the end of September in the league, but
will live long in the memory for being the night Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took h
is first tentative steps on the road back to competitive football.


United: Steele, Simpson, Eckersley, Cathcart, Pique, Fox (Gray, 78), Neumayr,
R Jones, Solskjaer (Ebanks-Blake, 46), Rossi, Martin (Cooper, 64).

Subs not used: Lee, Marsh.

Report by Steve Bartram.