Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lauded Eric Bailly’s performance after Manchester United went level on points with Liverpool.
Bailly started his fourth consecutive United match for the first time since September 2017 in their 2-1 win over Aston Villa and executed a pivotal block in the final seconds to thwart substitute Keinan Davis.
Solskjaer recalled Bailly for the Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Everton last week and the 26-year-old has formed an impressive partnership alongside Harry Maguire in the absence of Victor Lindelof.
“You can see today his physicality, his pace and his bravery is second to none really,” Solskjaer said. “He’s got a style of play that’s caused him to get injured a few times and probably muscle fibers have caused some injuries as well.
“You can see how much it means to him but also for the rest of the boys at the end of the game. Because he is such a well-liked player and man in the dressing room.
“Everyone wants him to do well and knows the struggles he’s had and we’re delighted for him.”
United are now level on points with Liverpool at least until Monday, when the champions take on Southampton at St Mary’s.
Liverpool host United on January 17 and United’s game in hand with Burnley at Turf Moor has been scheduled for January 12.
Even though the season has segued into the new year, United have not played even half of their Premier League fixtures and Solskjaer is refusing to get carried away.
“Of course, we knew how difficult it was going to be and you need to be playing well,” he added. “We needed some margins towards the end.
“It shouldn’t have been that way. We should have scored [again] – because we created a few opportunities in the second-half with counter-attacks and did have the chance to be more clinical and finish the game off.
“Then towards the end, David [de Gea] makes a good save and Eric makes a fantastic block and we saw it out one way or another. Sometimes you’ve got to find a way to win. We could have managed the last 10 minutes better but we got it over the line.
“I’m very happy with the position we’ve found ourselves in. It’s such a big difference, if you look 12 months back. You lose the chance to be there or thereabouts in the first 10 games, you can’t lose the chance to be in the title race.
“For us now, it’s a good position to be in but we need to improve, need to get better, there are going to be many tight games but if you can win games like tonight it will make a big difference.”
