Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not be sacked by Manchester United despite a poor run of results which worsened with a 4-2 defeat at Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

The Athletic understands the United manager has a lot of credit in the bank at board level, even though the 13-time Premier League champions have not won any of their previous three league games despite spending significantly in the summer.

Saturday's defeat leaves United in fifth, one point outside the top four. They have won one and lost one in their Champions League group.

But they face a tough run with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal among their next nine league fixtures.

Solskjaer joined United on a caretaker basis in December 2018 before being appointed to the role permanently the following spring. He signed a new three-year deal in July 2021 with the option to extend for another year which will see him stay at the club until at least 2024.

Solskjaer, 48, said post-match: “When you look at the game after, the four goals we conceded were poor. The way we played we don't deserve to continue that (away unbeaten) run.

“I pick the team, Harry Maguire showed no reaction and I hold my hand up if that does not work out. If we concede four, I probably made a bad decision.

“Lately we have not been in great form, lost too many points and that is something we have to look at. We might have to change, do we need more legs in there? What do we need?

“I have got many good players. Fred, Edinson Cavani, you miss them. I am not making excuses for the team I put out there, they are top footballers and we have not produced.

“It says everything our best player was David but we still conceded four goals.

“We have to dust ourselves off. Make sure that when we come in again, freshen our minds, we've looked ourselves in the mirror, I've looked myself in the mirror, and make sure we perform. That is the nature of football, you have to respond to set-backs.”

United added Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane to their squad in the summer at a combined cost of around £130 million.