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Cape Town - Rio Ferdinand has dismissed the notion that Manchester United's clash with Liverpool after the international break will decide the future of under-pressure manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Solskjaer was appointed caretaker manager on December 19, 2018, replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho for the rest of the 2018/19 season, and the Red Devils went on an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
On March 28, 2019, the Norwegian tactician was appointed United boss on a permanent basis, penning a three-year contract after winning 14 of his first 19 matches in charge.
However, since getting the full-time gig at Old Trafford, life has been a lot tougher and the 46-year-old is facing a battle to keep hold of his job after a dismal start to the 2019/20 campaign.
United lost 1-0 at Newcastle United prior to the international break, making it eight games without an away league win, and the 20-time English champions are sitting 12th in the table, two points above the relegation zone.
Next up for the Red Devils is a home clash against table-toppers Liverpool, who have a perfect record from their first eight league games, which has seen them open up an eight-point lead over defending champions Manchester City.
It is claimed defeat against the Reds will spell the end of Solskjaer's reign but Ferdinand, who played for United from 2002-2014, believes his former team-mate will be given time to turn things around.
"There's no way the club would have thought this would be rosy straight away, they're not naive enough to think that it was going to be a situation where he just changes it overnight," he told talkSPORT.
"That's why I don't see there being a change straight away, I'd be very surprised if I wake up, open a paper or an app and see that he has gone so quickly."
Liverpool, who are searching for their maiden Premier League title this season after narrowly missing out last term, are unbeaten in the last two competitive meetings against United, winning 3-1 at Anfield in December 2018 before drawing 0-0 in their most recent clash in February.
