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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Getty Images)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described the programming of From Manchester United game against Everton on Saturday as an “absolute joke” when Chelsea beat Sheffield United 4-1 to climb to third place in the Premier League.
United eased the pressure on their coach with a 3-1 early start win at Goodison Park, but the Norwegian expressed his fury with the league chiefs after sustaining further injuries.
WRAP | English Premier League
Crystal Palace beat Leeds 4-1 to make three losses out of four for Marcelo Bielsa’s men before Frank Lampard’s Chelsea beat Sheffield United behind by the same score.
The main theme on Saturday was whether United could bounce back after successive defeats, raising further questions about Solskjaer’s position at the club.
United only came back from their embarrassing Champions League defeat against Istanbul Basaksehir in the early hours of Thursday, but had to start at Goodison Park at 12:30 pm on Saturday.
Bruno Fernandes scored twice and new signing Edinson Cavani opened his account as United rallied to beat the early season pioneers.
But Solskjaer blamed the quick switch for injuries to Luke Shaw (hamstring), Victor Lindelof (back) and Marcus Rashford (shoulder).
“How can you expect players to perform to the best of their ability when he sends them out at 12:30? It’s an absolute joke,” he said.
“Our players were prepared to fail today with the schedule,” he added. “I pressured my club to really fight the start time in this one to give us at least half a chance, but it was canceled.”
United, who started the game a humble 15th in the table, showed courage and style as they recovered from trailing on a goal from Bernard in the 19th minute.
Fernandes was the most outstanding player of the 20-time champions, thriving in a creative midfield role in the absence of Paul Pogba.
The Portuguese drove in a Luke Shaw cross header that passed Jordan Pickford and scored again when the England international missed a cross that was trying for Rashford and the ball slipped over the far post.
Cavani, a former Paris Saint-Germain forward, secured the points with a goal in injury time.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team’s home win was United’s seventh consecutive away win in the Premier League, in stark contrast to their dismal form at home.
Everton, which topped the Premier League table earlier this season, have now suffered three consecutive losses in the league.
Chelsea have gotten into their rhythm after their expensive summer rebuild and are now just one point behind Southampton and Liverpool, who play Manchester City on Sunday.
Lampard’s side, now undefeated in six Premier League games, fell behind early at Stamford Bridge when a good move from David McGoldrick put Sheffield United in front.
But they responded quickly, with England forward Tammy Abraham placing home after Mateo Kovacic’s cut, and Ben Chilwell putting Chelsea in front shortly after half an hour.
Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva scored his first goal for Chelsea to put the Blues up 3-1 before Timo Werner passed Aaron Ramsdale to put the home team in full control.
“We are third,” Lampard delighted to Sky Sports. “The players are the ones who deliver and deserve that first credit. They were amazing, all of them today. The balance of the team was good and it’s good to see it. We must continue. I really enjoyed watching it, but I know what football is like.”
Leeds’ good start to their first season in the top flight after a 16-year absence is fading fast, as they conceded four for the second time in a week at Crystal Palace.
Goals from Scott Dann and Eberechi Eze gave Palace a 2-0 lead before Patrick Bamford cut one. But an own goal from Leeds winger Helder Costa restored the hosts’ two-goal cushion and Jordan Ayew completed the second-half win.
There was belated drama when West Ham beat Fulham 1-0 at London Stadium.
Tomas Soucek scored the only goal in injury time, but the Hammers welcomed a shocking lack of a penalty from Ademola Lookman with the final kick of the game to take all three points.
Lookman tried a ‘Panenka’ but rubbed his shot and Lukasz Fabianski had time to get to his feet and save.
