Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is back on the football circuit just weeks after seeing a potential return to Manchester United slip away, with the Norwegian resuming his UEFA duties at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The former United head coach had held discussions over a short term deal to replace Ruben Amorim until the end of the season, but the club ultimately turned to Michael Carrick instead. With that door closed, Solskjaer’s immediate focus shifts to the Champions League, where he will act as a technical observer for Liverpool’s clash with Qarabag.
Solskjaer has remained closely tied to the elite level of the game since leaving Old Trafford in 2021, serving as part of UEFA’s rotating group of technical observers. That role was briefly paused during his spell in charge of Besiktas in 2025, but it now resumes with Liverpool needing a victory to secure automatic qualification for the last 16.
The fixture comes at a tense moment for the hosts, with Arne Slot under growing pressure amid a faltering Premier League title defence. The stakes add further intrigue to a night that will see Solskjaer watching from the stands rather than the dugout.
UEFA regularly relies on out of work managers for these observer roles, tasking them with analysing tactical patterns, game management, and key moments. The reports are later published and often provide rare insight into elite level decision making. Ange Postecoglou recently filled the role after attending Arsenal’s 3-1 win away to Inter, offering a detailed and positive assessment of Mikel Arteta’s side.
While Solskjaer turns his attention to European duty, events continue to move quickly at his former club. Carrick has made an immediate impact since taking charge at Manchester United, delivering statement wins over Manchester City and Arsenal to steady a turbulent season.
The early momentum has reignited debate around the club’s long term direction, with Carrick’s appointment drawing comparisons to Solskjaer’s own journey from caretaker to permanent manager in 2019. That parallel has not gone unnoticed among former players and pundits.
Roy Keane and Gary Neville have both urged caution, questioning whether Carrick has the experience required to restore United to the top of English football. Others, however, see progress in the structure and clarity he has brought in a short space of time.
Rio Ferdinand has been the most vocal in Carrick’s defence, pointing to the difficulty of the fixtures and the authority with which United have navigated them. Six points from matches against the league’s top two, he argued, demanded respect rather than dismissal.
For Solskjaer, the immediate future is quieter but no less relevant. His presence at Anfield underlines his continued standing within the European game, even as he watches a former assistant carve his own path at Old Trafford. What comes next remains uncertain, but his name continues to hover around the highest level of football, ready for the next opening.
