Five things which have changed since Watford loss which cost Solskjaer the United job

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Plenty has changed since Watford 4-1 Manchester United in November, the game which cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job.

Here is a look at five things which are difference since that day when the Solskjaer era came to a dismal end…

Solskjaer out, Rangnick in

Solskjaer could have gone after the home defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City, but he clung onto his job.

The hope was that after the international break, he could inspire a response from his players but there were absolutely no signs of life in this performance.

Michael Carrick steadied the ship during three games as caretaker manager before Ralf Rangnick took over.

Performances have not been perfect but there is greater structure and discipline in United’s play now.

Solskjaer was in the end game by the time of the trip to Vicarage Road, but now United are looking forward to a new era which should start in the summer with the appointment of a new permanent manager.

United have lost just one league game since

Under Rangnick, United have the fourth longest unbeaten streak in Europe’s top 5 leagues going into the Watford game.

There have been 14 Premier League games since the Watford debacle and United have only lost one of them – January’s 1-0 loss at home to Wolves.

Rangnick has steadied the ship and United go into this game with a relative degree of unity and confidence.

The German deserves credit for that but the fixture list has also been kind to him; the Watford fixtures almost bookend a sequence of gentler fixtures.

Tougher tests are around the corner but United are not a club in crisis going into this game.

Hodgson has taken over

Watford’s win at Aston Villa last weekend was their first league victory since the 4-1.

That run of form saw Claudio Ranieri pay with his job and he has been replaced by Roy Hodgson.

That is not necessarily good news for United. Not only has Hodgson brought his trademark organisation and defensive structure, he has a good recent record at Old Trafford.

In his three most recent visits with Crystal Palace, Hodgson earned two wins and a 0-0 draw.

The former England boss knows how to set up a side to frustrate United before counter attacking on them and that is something Rangnick will have to be aware of here.

Elanga’s breakthrough

Anthony Elanga was not even on the bench for the 4-1 thumping but his rise since Rangnick took over has been breathtaking.

He took it onto another level in midweek with a goal against Atletico Madrid and Elanga has every chance of starting this game.

Elanga and Jadon Sancho are United’s best two wingers on form and he will offer a threat that Ranieri did not even have to consider ahead of the Vicarage Road clash.

The Swede has bounced back from his penalty disappointment against Middlesbrough incredibly well and will be looking for another goal here.

Pogba is back

The game in November was the first match of Pogba’s injury lay-off, having picked up a problem on France duty during the preceding international break.

He is now back fit and playing regularly, even if his midweek display left plenty to be desired.

Pogba should be able to flex his muscles and influence the game against the Hornets as United go into this game without the absent Scott McTominay.

McTominay and Nemanja Matic started the away game and United’s midfield was devoid of creativity, spark and fight and it might well be the case that Fred and Pogba join Bruno Fernandes in midfield for this one, which will hopefully bring about a more positive result.