Michael Owen believes changing shape has saved Manchester United this season and tipped them to pick up an 'fantastic point' against Atalanta tonight (8pm kick off UK time).
After his team slipped to a heavy and humiliating 5-0 defeat vs bitter rivals Liverpool, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came in for almost-universal criticism and was seemingly on the verge of being sacked.
But United opted not to pull the trigger and the Norwegian manager came out fighting at Tottenham and picked up three important points in the Premier League — courtesy of goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford.
Ronaldo and Cavani were set loose in tandem for the first time in a revamped 3-4-1-2 formation on Saturday.
And according to pundit and former United striker Owen, that tactical switch has saved Solskjaer, as attentions turn to the Champions League tonight.
Sitting top of Group F at the midway stage, the Premier League side travel to Italy for a match that, depending on the result, could have a major say in their progression to the knock-out rounds.
Predicting a 1-1 draw in his latest BetVictor column, Owen said: "That was a huge, potentially season-saving win for United on Saturday.
"I thought the change of shape worked really well and the strike duo of [Edinson] Cavani and [Cristiano] Ronaldo caused lots of problems.
"This will be a tough game for United, though, and a point would be an excellent result. I'm going for 1-1."
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