Ole Gunnar Solskjaer jokes that Sir Alex Ferguson will take Man United team talk against Liverpool

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Sir Alex Ferguson is welcome to give Manchester United’s team talk before they face bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

United’s caretaker boss wants his players to be aware just how important the match is to the club and their supporters, even though he admits they cannot be caught up in the emotion of the occasion.

‘He would be welcome to have his talk to the players because we know how much it means for him to overtake Liverpool,’ said Solskjaer of his former manager who took such delight in ‘knocking Liverpool off their f***ing perch’ during his 26 years at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer joked Sir Alex Ferguson will take Manchester United’s team talk

Solskjaer wants his players to know how important the visit of Liverpool on Sunday is

‘I played in a few of these myself and know the magnitude of it for the fans and everyone who works here. 

‘The staff there have been making comments that this is the big one, then it’s our job to be focusing and channelling all that energy into performance mode when we start the game on Sunday.

‘It’s not about emotions. I understand emotion can be brought into it but we have to stay focused and controlled with some fight in us as well.

‘For them, it’s a big game, we want to be in the top-four and we’re playing Liverpool. 

United’s interim boss insists he knows what it meant to Fergie to beat Liverpool

‘We know how big that game is for Manchester United, the staff and supporters. 

‘We’re just looking forward to another challenge for this team. We want to build this team to be worthy of Manchester United’s history.’

Asked if he would prefer Tottenham to win what he sees a three-horse title race, a smiling Solskjaer replied: ‘Maybe!’