Solskjaer plays down Liverpool struggles ahead of FA Cup clash

The Merseysiders travel to Old Trafford on the back of series of poor results, having failed to win all but one of their last six games.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists Liverpool are “still playing well” despite the team suffering a substantial drop in standards in recent weeks.

Liverpool’s long-running unbeaten streak at Anfield finally came to an end on Thursday after they lost out to the 15th-placed Burnley.

Probably the worst thing that can be said about that defeat was it wasn’t too much of a surprise even given their subpar performances in recent times.

Other than it being their first loss at home in 68 games and almost four years, the 1-0 result was the fifth successive game that the Reds failed to win in the league.

Liverpool now play Manchester United in the FA Cup 4th round. Speaking ahead of the match, Solskjaer, despite the oppositions’ obvious drop in standards, feels still the Premier League champions are still a “top team”.

“They’re still playing well,” Solskjaer insisted to United’s official website.

“I said it was the best time to meet them last week. That was of no disrespect to them, it was because it was the best time for us. We are in good form; we are in a great mode of confidence and momentum and we felt we could have won the away game.

“They will want to go through in the cup as well. They’re a few points behind us in the league but they’re still a top team.

“We had four home games on the bounce, now we had three away games on the bounce. You have to say, winning at Burnley, winning at Fulham and drawing against Liverpool, seven points – they’re decent results.”