Made captain after Harry Maguire was dropped, the Portuguese was a real nuisance.
Bruno Fernandes was given the Manchester United armband for the visit of Liverpool to Old Trafford. He led his team superbly.
Fernandes was part of a United midfield trio with Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay that helped the club surge into a 2-0 lead, before second half changes were made and the hosts held out to win 2-1.
Following the game, Gary Neville highlighted the all-round performance of Fernandes and said it was his best game for the club in a while. As well as his attacking contributions, the midfielder also tracked back to make two important second half clearances in the United box.
The only blot on Fernandes’ copybook was his booking for a dive in the Liverpool box, as he went down without any contact from Andrew Robertson. He also riled up Liverpool players, and fans, by not giving the ball to Mo Salah after he grabbed a goal back.
At the full-time whistle, Jurgen Klopp got his hands on Bruno Fernandes and went lighter on him than many Reds supporters would have liked:
Jurgen Klopp can't hide his feelings towards Bruno Fernandes 😅 pic.twitter.com/7Gdop1IeUM
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 22, 2022
Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool’s slow start
Liverpool are now winless after three games in the Premier League, and down in 16th.
“The start of the game was exactly what everyone excepted, what United fans expected, they were after us,” Klopp told the BBC.
“They started slightly more aggressive than us, they could more play the game they wanted than we could play the game we wanted. They scored the goal, which we had to defend differently, but that is how it is with goals. The second part of the first half we were there and caused them problems. We had massive chances… We scored a goal and we deserved in that period and then you have to force it, we tried, have to admit in the end not good enough and that is why we lost.”
“I don’t have a lot of arguments, we lost the game,” the German added. On another day, with more conviction about what we are doing we can turn it around. That is how it is.
“To play the football we are able to play. We want to fight. We have a good home game on Saturday and Anfield has to be rocking. We have to set the fire and the rhythm. We will try absolutely everything that every Liverpool supporter will expect, we will fight for our lives.”
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