With his first free midweek of the season, it was anticipated that Solskjaer would choose his best squad for United's first league trip to Yorkshire's most inhospitable part since October 2003.
Instead, he demonstrated that he had more than one finger on Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg against Roma by leaving his two most in-form attackers on the bench, with Pogba coming on after 75 minutes and Cavani coming on after the final four minutes.
Pogba will face only Luke Shaw for the title of United's best player in 2021, while Cavani had scored in three consecutive games after only playing 45 minutes against Burnley a week earlier.
It came as a surprise that neither was in the starting lineup, and it came as even more of a surprise that a sluggish game was left to drift for as long as it did before an intervention from the bench.
The squad chosen by Solskjaer had shades of the one that thrashed Leeds in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, with Mason Greenwood replacing Anthony Martial as the only outfield alteration from that day.
Greenwood is definitely more of a match for Martial than Cavani, but if United expected the same kind of playing, they were disappointed.
Yet the upshot is their recent form in the Premier League has made second a near guarantee.
After a tumultuous week off the field, the return to football was welcome, but for United, this game was secondary this week.
Roma is given precedence.
So, while Solskjaer hoped Daniel James would replicate his impact against Leeds four months ago, he was let down.
Although United roared out of the gates on that day, it was a more cautious affair on Sunday.
Leeds had learned their lesson from that contest, and both teams seemed to be going through the motions at the end of the season.
The spring sun and each team's lack of edge obviously contributed to their ease, and while it was rarely combative, it wasn't a game characterized by its consistency.
It was a game that screamed for a substitution, but Solskjaer waited until the last 15 minutes to make one, implying that he needed to keep some main players fresh for the game against Roma on Thursday.
With Marcus Rashford struggling to play with pain and Bruno Fernandes barely taking a break, Pogba and Cavani were forced to sit out.
On Thursday, they'll be the first names on the roster.
Solskjaer understands the significance of the two-legged tie with Roma, having been to four semi-finals and losing all four in the last 16 months.
In the Premier League, a runner-up finish is all but guaranteed, but if United can add a cup, it would be a big boost to their morale.
It's possible that the Europa League semi-finals will now determine United's season, which will range from mediocre to nice.
If you book a spot in the final in Gdansk on May 26, the odds will be stacked in your favor.
The importance of the Roma game was shown by Solskjaer's team selection at Elland Road and his comfort in a workmanlike if uninspiring, performance.
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