December 23:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sat down for the traditional Manchester United Christmas lunch in the Carrington canteen on Tuesday and has every reason to be filled with festive cheer this year. His team are third in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, after a run of six wins from their last seven games.

The Norwegian manager has had to deal with the setback of an early Champions League exit, but has a Carabao Cup quarterfinal with Everton, plus the start of their FA Cup campaign in the new year, to keep their bid for silverware alive.