Manchester United staff gave special instructions to the ball boys at Old Trafford during Sundays injury-plagued 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to use all three substitutes in the first half as Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all limped off the pitch.
And the United manager had messages passed around the ground telling the ball boys to slow down in giving the ball back to the Reds in an effort to have more time to deal with the crisis.
According to The Sun, one fan said: 'United coaching staff were walking round the pitch to speak to each ball boy, probably to tell them to slow down in giving the ball back to Liverpool as they were struggling at the time.