Ole Gunnar Solskjaer swatted away the remaining minority of doubters last weekend after he successfully led a reinvigorated Manchester United to victory at Tottenham, and in the process edge ahead of Mauricio Pochettino in the next Man Utd manager market.
The prized three points propelled Man Utd level with rivals Arsenal on 41 points, six points off the top-four, while it also meant that Solskjaer became the first ever Man Utd manager to open up with six successive wins.
Five of these triumphs have taken place in the top-flight. Now, on Saturday, Solskjaer can equal a Premier League record currently held by Man City boss Pep Guardiola and the ex-Chelsea gaffer Carlo Ancelotti.
The duo are the only two managers in the history to start their Premier League tenures with six wins on the spin: Guardiola back at the start of the 2016/17 campaign, and Ancelotti in 2009/10 (the latter would go on to win the title that season).
Solskjaer is currently locked besides the current Blues boss Maurizio Sarri and ex-Leicester gaffer Craig Shakespeare on five league wins from five games.
Next opponents Brighton pushed leaders Liverpool all the way in a narrow 1-0 loss last weekend, but their record on the road isn’t great – losing seven of their 11 away games – and few will be backing the south coast side to inflict a first defeat upon Solskjaer at Old Trafford this weekend.
United are the red-hot 2/7 favourites to make is seven straight wins in all competitions under Solskjaer, whereas the Seagull are out at 10/1 to return home with the spoils.
Should United triumph they would be catapulted above Arsenal to within just three points of the top-four – for a few hours at least – while the Norwegian would then need to register a win at home to Burnley at the end of the month to surpass both Guardiola and Sarri to set a new record for the best ever winning start from a new Premier League manager.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Winning Touch (league)
– Cardiff 1-5 Man Utd
– Man Utd 3-2 Huddersfield
– Man Utd 4-1 Bournemouth
– Newcastle 0-2 Man Utd
– Tottenham 0-1 Man Utd