Manchester United 'told ball boys to slow down giving it back to Liverpool' in effort to deal with injury crisis in clash at Old Trafford
* Manchester United drew 0-0 with rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday
* Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced into making three changes before half-time
* Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard were all hit by hamstring injuries
Manchester United staff gave special instructions to the ball boys at Old Trafford during Sundays injury-plagued 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to use all three substitutes in the first half as Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all limped off the pitch.
And the United manager had messages passed around the ground telling the ball boys to slow down in giving the ball back to the Reds in an effort to have more time to deal with the crisis.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer passed messages to ball boys telling them to give it back slowly
According to The Sun, one fan said: 'United coaching staff were walking round the pitch to speak to each ball boy, probably to tell them to slow down in giving the ball back to Liverpool as they were struggling at the time.'
Herrera was the first to depart after going down with what looked to be a hamstring injury around the 20-minute mark.
Solskjaer knew straight way that his game was over, immediately signalling for Andreas Pereira to take his place.
Things soon got worse for the Red Devils as Mata was forced off just minutes later with an ankle injury.
The playmaker was replaced by Lingard, who had himself been rushed back from a hamstring issue to take a place on the bench for the game.
And Solskjaer would soon regret bringing the Englishman into the game as he pulled up 15 minutes later after seeing a one-on-one attempt denied by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6740953/Manchester-United-told-ball-boys-slow-giving-Liverpool-draw-Old-Trafford.html