Watford 4-1 Man United: How much worse can it get for Solskjaer? The Red Devils hit a new low as Ranieri's Hornets run wild at Vicarage Road, with Maguire sent off on a miserable afternoon
- Manchester United suffered their fifth defeat in seven league games as they faced Watford on Saturday
- Claudio Ranieri's men stormed to a 4-1 victory over a woeful United at Vicarage Road with goals either half
- Josh King and Ismailia Sarr handed the hosts the lead in the first half after Watford saw two penalties saved
- Substitute Donny van de Beek had an immediate impact and pulled one back for the visitors after the break
- But United's woes weren't over as Captain Harry Maguire was sent off and Watford added a last-gasp third
- Latest Premier League news, including live action and results
- Premier League table - as it stands
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sank deep his anorak, nibbled anxiously at the zip he had pulled up to the very top and plunged hands into pockets as he suffered alone the bitter end of another miserable defeat.
Before him, Manchester United were in tatters, sliced open time and again during a feeble first-half display and reduced to 10 men after the interval when Harry Maguire collected two yellow cards in seven minutes.
There would be no late escape, this time. No salvage operation from Cristiano Ronaldo. Instead, his team were falling apart and Watford were feasting on late goals to crank up the decibels inside Vicarage Road.
United, having briefly threatened another unlikely fight back, simply collapsed. Their players hit the deck, drained and exhausted. Any hope had been that this international break would provide a break from the relentless scrutiny, and that it might cleanse their minds and reboot a faltering campaign, had long since vanished.
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Instead, it was a sobering humiliation to mark a new lowest ebb for Solskjaer and this will go down as the day when the United fans lost faith in their hero, an icon. They turned on the manager after the final whistle as he strode towards them clapping thanks for their support, jeering and hurling abuse upon him from the stands.
Bruno Fernandes wandered across, wagging his finger towards the angry fans, trying to suggest they were getting this wrong. Fernandes pointed at himself and his bedraggled teammates as if they ought to be taking the flak.
It was a noble gesture but he misjudged the mood. After defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City, it was too much to be thrashed by lowly Watford. “Nightmare after nightmare after nightmare,” as David de Gea told MUTV. “It’s tough.”
There had been the flicker of a comeback when Donny van de Beek scored soon after interval two make it 2-1 but this flame went out with Maguire and, in truth, it could all have been much worse.
Untied made an awful start, conceding a penalty in the fifth minute, after a careless error by Fernandes landed his team in trouble. Fernandes attempted to hook the ball out of defence on the volley only to slice it high into the sky.
It fell to Josh King who was bundled over by Scott McTominay and ball rolled to Emmanuel Dennis, who should have scored but missed the target and, with no advantage, referee Jon Moss awarded a penalty.
McTominay escaped without caution, a decision with repercussions when he picked up a yellow card midway through the first half for a late tackle.
Sarr took the penalty, a tame effort saved by De Gea only for Kiko Femenia to lash the rebound into the net. It was an emphatic finish but Femenia had encroached and the penalty was ordered to be retaken.
Again, Sarr took it. Again, De Gea saved it, diving to his left and pushing the ball away with his right hand. The whole process took the best part of five minutes and ended with the game still goalless.
Watford took heart, though, and United’s vulnerability to the pace of their front three on the turnover of possession was masked initially by a series of late interventions by Maguire and poor decisions by the home side when it came to the final pass or shot selection around the fringes of the penalty box.
Maguire foiled a threatening counter attack when he intercepted an attempted cross from Sarr, searching for Dennis when he might have taken aim at goal, perhaps wary after twice failing to beat De Gea from the penalty spot.
United’s captain than blocked an effort by King and denied Sarr again after a slip by Nemanja Matic, who struggled to cope with the game’s aggressive tempo, but he could not hold the dam as Watford continued to prey on United’s nerves.
King pounced for the opener, turning in a low cross from eight yards after Aaron Wan-Bissaka failed to defend a cross at the back post, heading it straight up in the air. Dennis collected it, beat Wan-Bissaka and cut the ball back to King, one of four former United players starting for Watford.
De Gea beat away a header from King and Moussa Sissoko volleyed wide before Sarr finally found the net with a crisp and clinical low strike from an angle, after a pass from Femenia, shortly before the interval.
At half-way United had offered nothing going forward beyond a half-volley by Marcus Rashford, saved by Ben Foster when the score was 1-0. Their fans sang for Donny van de Beek and chanted “attack attack attack”.
Solskjaer did as he was told and sent on Van de Beek. Antony Martial appeared, too, and both were involved as United pulled a goal back within five minutes. Martial collected a pass out of midfield from Fernandes and found Jadon Sancho, whose cross from the right was headed back by Ronaldo.
There was Van de Beek, unmarked and diving to head into an empty net his second Manchester United goal, and his first for 14 months. Briefly, it was a different game. United kicked down the slope with some menace and Claudio Ranieri’s team reeled, operating purely on the break as an attacking force.
Foster saved from Ronaldo but momentum faltered as Watford successfully disrupted the rhythms of the game and Maguire was sent off with 21 minutes remaining.
His first yellow card for a pull on Sarr as he wriggled into the penalty box and the second a result of his own decision to dribble out of defence. Tom Cleverley read his intentions and stole possession before he was cut down by Maguire’s desperate lunge to recover.
Ronaldo headed over and found the net only for it to be ruled out for offside but the comeback attempt fizzled out and it was Watford who struck late. Joao Pedro beat De Gea at his near post and Dennis grabbed the fourth in the sixth minute of stoppage time
It was grim for Solskjaer, a fourth defeat in five Premier League games for United and this one felt terminal for the manager.
Catch-up with all the action from the Premier League's 3pm kick-offs with Sportsmail's ISABEL BALDWIN.
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Isabel Baldwin Host commentator
It has been a manic 90 minutes across the Premier League this afternoon with drama late on in a number of fixtures.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is surely staring down the barrel of dismissal after another humiliating defeat.
Here's the final scores from all the games:
Aston Villa 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 3-3 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 3-3 Brentford
Norwich 2-1 Southampton
Watford 4-1 Man Utd
Wolves 1-0 West Ham
This is devastating for United now.
It's another last-gasp goal, this time from Dennis.
Surely, Solskjaer has to be getting the sack.
It's all over as Joao Pedro adds a third late on.
We finally have a goal at Villa Park!
And it's Steven Gerrard's men who are celebrating. Ollie Watkins curls the ball into the net to open the scoring late on.
The teams are out for this evening's blockbuster clash between Liverpool and Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Grant Hanley has headed Norwich into the lead at Carrow Road!
Dean Smith is just 10 minutes away from securing a win on his first game in charge.
Cristiano Ronaldo finds the back of the net for United.
More clever play by Donny van de Beek sees the forward slip the ball past the Watford keeper.
Has he rescued them one again?
... no, he's offside and the goal is chalked off.
It's another goal in a thrilling fixture at St James' Park.
Saint-Maximin levels for the hosts and the Newcastle fans are going wild.
What a calamity!
Just six minutes after his first, Maguire is shown a second yellow card.
It's a reckless challenge. He tries to dribble past Tom Cleverley but his touch is too heavy and he goes over the ball, clattering into the Watford man.
The Man United captain sees red.
He chucks his captain's armband to the ground and storms off the pitch.
Anyone else wish he'd walked off cupping his ears?
Harry Maguire is booked for an awkward tackle on Ismaila Sarr. Just got the wrong side of the Watford forward and had to haul him down.
The hosts are given a free kick in a dangerous position.
It's a real chance for Watford to restore a comfortable lead but it comes to nothing as the ball is driven straight into the United wall.
Ranieri makes his first change of the game as William Troost-Ekong comes on for Nicholas N'Koulou.
Frank Onyeka puts Brentford back in front at St James'.
The Portugal star looks like he is going to bail United out yet again.
He pulls in the Watford back four as the ball is played through to him on goal But he appears to lose his footing and he slips as he strikes the ball.
Ben Foster is quick to come out and Ronaldo's shot flicks off the keeper and over the bar.
Watford still have the lead.
Finally some action at Molineux.
Raul Jiminez really is back to his best. He finishes Nelson Semedo’s cutback to give Wolves the lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo is down on the turf in the box calling for a penalty.
But referee John Moss is having none of it.
There's more action at Turf Moor.
Burnley have levelled through a blistering hit from Maxwel Cornet.
Oh my word. Forgotten man Van de Beek has rescued United.
Just four minutes on the pitch and he's already made an impact.
He's headed to put United back in the game.
Think he might have been sending a little message to a certain manager there...
Peep peep!
We're back underway for the second-half in the Premier League 3pm games.
United were floundering in the first-half at Vicarage Road and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought on Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial for Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford.
Yes, you read that right. Donny van de Beek is actually on the pitch!
Bit strange that a famous United fan is watching a Liverpool legend's first game in charge of Aston Villa while his own team are in action...
But the way United are playing I don't blame him.
We've made it to the break in the 3pm games.
Here's the scores:
Aston Villa 0-0 Brighton
Burnley 2-3 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 2-2 Brentford
Norwich 1-1 Southampton
Watford 2-0 Man United
Wolves 0-0 West Ham
Things aren't looking too good for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer...
Sarr missed a penalty - twice - early on thanks to two De Gea saves but the Watford man beat the keeper this time.
It's a cracking finish but the United players look like they've already given up - and it's not even half-time yet.
There's all the action at Turf Moor this afternoon.
Marc Guehi puts the Eagles back in front!
It's up and down at St James'.
The Magpies were ahead, then behind and now level.
Joelinton levels for the hosts in the 38th minute.
Benteke couldn't miss.
He bags his second from Conor Gallagher's assist.
Sounds like a cracking game for a neutral at Turf Moor.
Brentford come from behind to lead at St James'.
It is a finely crafted goal from the Bees as Sergi Canos’s cross is headed in emphatically by Rico Henry.
It's been one-way traffic at The Vic this afternoon and only a matter of time before Watford punished a sloppy United.
Josh King slots home to score against his former side.
Burnley have come from behind to lead at Turf Moor thanks to a set piece finished of by Chris Wood.
Back to our main game this afternoon...
Watford have been smothering United so far. Ranieri's side have been relentless going forward.
Captain Harry Maguire has made two key blocks for United, his latest to stop King putting Watford ahead.
Brentford thought they had snatched the lead after Newcastle pulled ahead early on.
But Toney's goal is chalked off for offside. It was a tight call but a correct one.
It remains Newcastle 1-1 Brentford.
Captain Ben Mee has pulled Burnley level at Turf Moor.
It's been chaos in the start to the 3pm games.
So here's a little reminder of the scores on the doors, in case you're struggling to keep up - I know I am!
Aston Villa 0-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-1 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 1-1 Brentford
Norwich 1-1 Southampton
Watford 0-0 Man United
Wolves 0-0 West Ham
There's so much action going on in the 3pm games that Benteke's goal almost slipped past us.
A lively looking Benteke has put Palace ahead at Turf Moor.
Well, that lead didn't last long.
Brentford equalise just a minute after Newcastle take the lead. Ivan Toney pulls the Bees level after what sounds like a mistake from Karl Darlow.
Eddie Howe has missed the first goal of his Newcastle reign.
Jamaal Lascelles finds the net at St James' Park.
All the drama at The Vic!
David de Gea saves Sarr's spotkick again.
De Gea didn’t save a penalty for about five years; now he can’t stop.
Sarr retook the penalty, driving down the middle but the Spaniard was there to save with his legs.
Watford's goal has been disallowed as John Moss calls for the penalty to be retaken.
Femenia was encroaching but so were two United players.
Ismaila Sarr’s penalty is saved by David de Gea, but Kiko Femenia follows up to score!
Norwich have equalised!
Teemu Pukki has headed Norwich level from Max Aarons’ cross.
VAR has been called into action at Vicarage Road.
Referee John Moss immediately pointed to the spot but the challenge is being reviewed by VAR.
Surely, it will be given.
The Saints have taken an early lead through Che Adams at Carrow Road.
Not the start the Canaries were looking for in the Dean Smith era.
We finally have a Gerrard sighting at Villa Park!
The new boss looks smart as he makes his way to the home dugout.
And we're off!
The players take the knee at Vicarage Road and Bruno Fernandes gets us underway.
Elsewhere, the reigns of Steven Gerrard at Villa, Dean Smith at Norwich and Eddie Howe at Newcastle are officially under way.
In the early Saturday kick-off Chelsea thrashed a dire Leicester side 3-0 to move six points clear at the top of the table.
Liverpool face Arsenal at 5pm, while City take on Everton on Sunday but can anyone catch Thomas Tuchel's side this season?
Earlier today, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has promised Donny van de Beek will get a chance at Manchester United as the midfielder will 'reap the rewards' of his attitude.
With a Champions League clash against Villareal looming next week, it was thought the boss could rest key players and the midfielder may finally have a start.
But once again, the Dutchman has been shackled to the United bench as they face a 17th-placed Watford.
Will Solskjaer ever set him free?
United are in sixth spot, five points adrift of the Champions League spots and in desperate need of a result which will breathe new life into their poor season.
The Red Devils have won just one of their last five league games but it still comes as no surprise that Betfair have them as outright favourites this afternoon.
Watford 11/2
Draw 18/5
Manchester United 40/85
Gerrard has left Rangers and European football behind to return to the Premier League.
The new Villa boss spent 17 years with Liverpool's first team and has made no secret of his desire to return to Anfield in a managerial role in the past.
But Gerrard insisted his job at Villa Park is not a stepping stone on his journey back to Liverpool.
'It's very unfair to describe this as stepping stone, you will never hear me say that,' said Gerrard.
'I am really honoured and proud to be here. I'm all-in and I will give this job all it needs to be successful.
'I am 100 per cent committed and so are my staff. There is nothing wrong with having dreams and aspirations.
'Liverpool have a world-class coach in Jurgen Klopp. If he was to sign a lifetime deal right now I would be very happy for him and them.'
Wolves' Daniel Podence starts for the first time since September.
Dean Smith makes three changes for his first game as Norwich boss as Hanley, Gilmour and Cantwell start.
Mason Greenwood is missing from United's match day squad after testing positive for Covid. That means a start for Jadon Sancho who has struggled for game time since arriving at Old Trafford this summer.
New boss Eddie Howe may not be able to attend his first game in charge after testing positive for Covid but he's named his first starting XI.
Here's Gerrard's first starting XI as Villa boss. No real surprises as the Liverpool legend looks to go with a 4-3-3 with Ollie Watkins playing wide.
And here's how Solskjaer has lined up this afternoon as he looks to avoid the axe.
Starting with the Watford line-up.
The fans are beginning to pile into Vicarage Road ahead of kick-off at 3pm.
We should have the team news shortly.
And welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of the Premier League 3pm games, featuring Watford v Manchester United and Aston Villa v Brighton.
The international break is over and we're back with some thrilling features as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to hold on to his job after humiliating defeats to Liverpool and Man City.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard makes his return to the Premier League as he takes charge of his first game at Villa.
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