Given his importance to the side, it was, perhaps, a surprise that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had benched Cristiano Ronaldo, replacing him with an out of sorts Anthony Martial.

That said, the 36-year-old had exerted himself in the midweek win over Villarreal, and there’ll be more difficult assignments ahead for United.

Donny van de Beek must be wondering what he has to do to get a regular start as he begins another match on the subs bench.

It’s the absence of Ronaldo that has got supporter’s backs up, however, and many took to social media to vent their anger.

Why would you bench your best player?

— Zubair (@zubby_44) October 2, 2021

LOSING TODAY for benching Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/dUbi39p1vJ

— ranny (@ranny_ft) October 2, 2021

What a hell is going on. Where is Ronaldo?

— Utd Latest (@MichaelAter5) October 2, 2021

OleOut this is a joke. Martial is so bad

— Freecant??????? (@Freecant) October 2, 2021

is this a prank or something?
what’s this?

— Kw?kku (@sark_jd) October 2, 2021

I want Ole to succeed. I really truly do. But this is not it.

— Eto (@edoman90) October 2, 2021

Ronaldo on the bench???? pic.twitter.com/U4ArxT9025

— Ché (@che___xo) October 2, 2021