Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly fighting for his job at Manchester United following a difficult start to the season.
According to reports, Liverpool owners FSG could help influence Red Devils bosses’ decision.
The club legend took over at Old Trafford as caretaker manager in December 2018, replacing Jose Mourinho after a 3-1 defeat to the Reds at Anfield, before being handed the job permanently the following March.
A challenging mid-season last year saw the Norwegian face pressure to keep his job before guiding his side to Champions League qualification.
However, a Europa League semi-final defeat to Sevilla before a poor start to the new campaign has once again left him facing fresh scrutiny.
Losing their opening Premier League game of the season 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace, the Red Devils currently sit 16th in the table after they were thrashed 6-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur in their last outing before the October international break.
According to the Daily Mirror, Ed Woodward will have no hesitation firing Solskjaer if United's season continues to implode.
And despite the 47-year-old’s untouchable status with supporters as a result of scoring the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final, the Manchester United chief executive has privately insisted he would put sentiment aside for the future of the club.
Former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has been linked as a potential replacement, and according to the report, Woodward has cited FSG’s decision to sack Kenny Dalglish in May 2012 as evidence that he would be willing to do the same.
Liverpool might be the current Premier League champions, but it is a stark cry from the side their American owners took over a decade ago, with next week marking ten years since they successfully ousted Tom Hicks and George Gillett to buy the club.
One of their first decisions was regarding Liverpool’s managerial position, with John W. Henry and co. dispatching with the services of the unpopular Roy Hodgson within three months of arriving at Anfield.
Dalglish was swiftly appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season in January 2011, before the Scot was handed the job permanently the following May.
However, just a year later and FSG were on the lookout for a new manager once again.
While Dalglish had led Liverpool to League Cup success and an FA Cup final, the Reds only finished eighth in the Premier League table after winning just five matches during the second half of the season as they focused on the domestic cup competitions.
Making the difficult and controversial decision to terminate the Scot’s contract despite his popularity with fans in May 2012, and with critics suggesting silverware should have been enough to keep him in a job, there can be no doubt that FSG’s tough call paid off.
Replacing Dalglish with Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool came agonisingly close to winning the Premier League in 2013/14 under the Northern Irishman before a loss in form saw Jurgen Klopp appointed the following year.
When FSG hired the German back in October 2015, the Reds owners struck gold.
Five years later and their side have won the Champions League, Premier League and FIFA Club World Cup, as well as the European Super Cup, as Klopp’s men conquered all that lay before them.
And it is Liverpool’s subsequent success dating back to that original, controversial decision that could influence Woodward and end up costing Solskjaer his job at Old Trafford.
