Frustrated footballer Bruno Fernandes has said that if Manchester United can play at Anfield, they will have to “do it everywhere” after the squad's crisis was confirmed. draw 2-2 against Premier League leaders Liverpool Sunday.
Cody Gakpo canceled out Lisandro Martinez's shock opener for United on Sunday before Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot, but Amad Diallo scored a late goal.
United finished the match the stronger, and defender Harry Maguire wasted a last-minute chance to win the game by firing over the bar from Joshua Zirkzee's square pass.
Liverpool's point takes them six clear of second-placed Arsenal with a game in hand. United are way down in 13th place, but they've finished at least their streak for four games.
“We've been criticized, and rightly so,” United captain Fernandes told Sky Sports. “Our position in the table says it all. We've dropped too many points. Even today, no we can be happy with a point. we need the points and we could have won the game in the end, but it's an average result both teams played good football.
“I'm very upset. If we show this level at Liverpool, first in the league, why can't we do this everywhere? It bothers me. Also, I finally performed properly. We said we need a lot more from ourselves to get more from this season.”
The midfielder said next week's FA Cup tie at Arsenal will be difficult for the holders but “we want to reach the final again”.
“We know how difficult it is to play against Liverpool,” he said. “Today, we put a real effort into the game. Playing with a bit of passion and heart is going to give you something from game.You have to put effort in and that's why we brought something from today.
“It can't stop here. We have to take this frustration to the next game to understand that this has to be at the level. If we can do it at Anfield, we have to do it everywhere. “
👆 @LFC six points ahead of Arsenal after today's draw with Man Utd! #LIVUMUN | #Joke pic.twitter.com/uTOw1Tq3Si
– Premier League (@premierleague) January 5, 2025
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said it could have been worse for his side if Maguire had converted a late chance. “I'm certainly disappointed with dropping points at home but it is what it is and we have to move on and we will,” he said.
“We found the 2-1 and then it's about trying to manage the game and keep the ball beyond three or four passes. We lost the ball too easily at times and then we were more open than we should have been. We are not perfect. We are still learning and we have to learn from this too.”
The defender said Liverpool had not underestimated United, despite the opposition's struggles this season.
“That's all the media, the media talking,” he said. “It has nothing to do with us. We prepared for a very difficult game as we saw today. We didn't think about that. “
United manager Ruben Amorim has had a difficult start to his time in charge at Old Trafford, with the club slipping to six defeats in September, ending their four-game losing streak.
“We are in a difficult time,” Amorim told Sky Sports. “If you play against Liverpool every day, we will get back positions like that. But if you play against any opponent, you have to We've proven that we can do it. We've been really competitive – that's what we need to do going forward.
“It's not just the players, it's all the staff at the club. I am happy for the performance, not for the results. But I'm really mad for the other games,” Amorim continued after United slipped to their fourth successive defeat, and sixth in the month of December, against Newcastle on Monday.
Look at it @ManUtdthe average positions from their last two games 🔎
What stands out to you?
📊 @Oracle | #LIVUMUN pic.twitter.com/UG07jqgHCo
– Premier League (@premierleague) January 5, 2025
“Obviously, we're going to improve in training, but it's how we faced the game, not from training,” he continued. “You can ask any fan – how we fight, how we kick, how we fight for the ball. It is so clear.
“Today I feel the players really wanted it. The important thing is not to rest tomorrow and return to the same shows. I will do everything to make the players understand, they have to suffer in a game. I'm really trying the basics and we have to move on.
“Congratulations on the achievement, but not the result. Everyone will say that the players did everything right, so I'm allowed to be upset (with them for the other results) today.”
