Angry Man United fans call on Gary Neville to 'stop protecting' old team-mate Solskjaer and are left baffled by his insistence he should stay because 'best manager in the world' Jose flopped at Old Trafford... despite previously being sacked by Chelsea!

• Manchester United were played off their own pitch by Liverpool on Sunday
• Gary Neville insisted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should still remain as United boss
• United fans were left staggered by Neville's reasoning over their manager 

As Manchester United fans sift through the ruins of their side's shambolic 5-0 defeat by fierce rivals Liverpool, the scrutiny over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's position as manager is rapidly intensifying.

The number of supporters believing the time is now for a managerial change at Old Trafford has risen after United were easily swept aside on their own patch by Liverpool, who surged into a 4-0 lead by half-time.

And some supporters have been left confused by United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville's assessment that his old team-mate should be given time to turn things around at Old Trafford and that a bigger name would not succeed in getting more out of the squad.

In his post-match analysis on Sky, Neville was inevitably asked about the managerial future of his old team-mate Solskjaer.

'In any other club, he's in massive trouble tonight. In any other part of United's recent history, he would have been in trouble,' Neville said. 'But because of what happened with Van Gaal and Mourinho, it's not going to happen.

'Mourinho was the best manager in the world when he came to United. The best manager in the world! And he didn't do it here. (Antonio) Conte is available and I wouldn't bring him in to Manchester United. I wouldn't.

'I don't think he's a fit. I might be wrong, they might bring him here tomorrow and I'd get behind him but I don't think he's a fit. We've seen a coach with a specific style like Louis van Gaal and it didn't work here.

'I'm not saying there isn't a manager who can come to United and do well and one day if Ole isn't here I hope that happens but today, I personally feel it would be wrong to sack Solskjaer today.'

Jamie Carragher retorted by saying: 'Is that right? All because of what happened in the past? So Manchester United shouldn’t look for the best manager in the world because of Mourinho?' 

And to rub salt in the wounds for a vast number of United fans, they were in agreement with the Anfield hero. 

One angry fan wrote: 'Waking up knowing @ManUtd haven’t sacked Ole and we play city in a couple of weeks. 

'@GNev2 stop protecting Ole he has done a worst job than Mourinho and been given more money. Time to bring Conte, zidane or Rodgers into the club and start the build before Ole wastes more money.'

A different United fan said: 'Gary Neville makes 0 sense. Mourinho didn’t work so we stick with a manager in ole who’s clearly incompetent. 

'Didn’t he say United need the best in class? Look at our coaching staff. Carrick Mckenna ect. Embarrassing.' 

Another praised Carragher for his assessment of United, saying: '@Carra23 is to me, a bigger United legend than @GNev2.. He’s always said the right things about this club even during the days of Mourinho.. It’s not rocket science, Ole’s is so inept and he’s obviously out of his depth..'

A different United supporter called for Neville to be harsher on Solskjaer, saying: 'Be a man and call out for your mate's head openly in media like you called for Mourinho & LVG pal @GNev2 - just because he's your mate, you cannot keep twisting the narrative.'

Other viewers were left surprised by Neville labelling Mourinho the best in the world. One fan took to Twitter saying: 'Without meaning to rail on Gary Neville he keeps saying United brought in the world’s best managers in Van Gaal and Mourinho and it didn’t work so what are they meant to do now? 

'Mourinho was busted flush by the time he went to United and Van Gaal hadn’t been relevant in 15 yrs.'

Only last week, before the Liverpool mauling, Neville admitted he would not be calling out Solskjaer due to his past alongside the current United boss.

'I've got Manchester United fans on my social media all of the time saying, "Gary, he's your mate. You won't call him out." No, I won't,' Neville said.

'I won't call Steve Kean out, or Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. I'm not going to come on this show 11 years later and ask for a manager to be sacked. It's never going to happen. He's a club legend. He's my team-mate. I actually like him a lot. 

'Manchester United have failed with two previous managers who have been world class. I think they persist until the end of the season.

'If he does win the Europa League and the FA Cup, and they finish in the top four, I would still say that's building a successful team.'

United are already out of the Carabao Cup so are not in midweek action. They face Tottenham next in Saturday's late kick-off.

The defeat by Liverpool leaves United seventh in the Premier League, only three points outside the top four but they are already eight behind leaders Manchester City.