Bruno Fernandes shoved the assistant referee. He pretended his nose exploded when he was caught in the chest by Ibrahima Konate. He dived to try and win a penalty from Alisson. He refused to go after Stefan Bajcetic when he was beaten.
He waved his arms in the air when Erik ten Hag didn’t replace him. Bruno Fernandes, salute one of the worst performances we’ve seen from a Premier League player, certainly from a captain.
The Incredible Sulk has quite a criminal record on Anfield. There was nothing professional about this behavior. It was more suited to a stubborn child, and the shove at the assistant should result in a ban without any ifs or buts.
Paolo Di Canio won 11 games in 1998, remember, and I wouldn’t disagree if Fernandes received the same penalty. It was shameful, embarrassing, shameful, whatever word you can conjure up.
It’s bad enough you get wiped out in Liverpool, but then you see the guy with the armband try Ten Hag for not replacing him. Is he really the leader that everyone else should follow?
Bruno Fernandes pretended his nose had exploded when he was caught in the chest by Ibrahima Konate
The Porutugse midfielder was also involved in altercations with the referee and his assistant
Erik ten Hag was set to strip Fernandes of his captain’s armband over his behavior at Anfield
Whatever you think of Harry Maguire, the club’s captain, you wouldn’t catch him on the pitch behaving like that. Ten Hag addressed the Cristiano Ronaldo issue.
Now he has to deal with Fernandes, starting with deciding if he deserves to wear the armband in Thursday’s Europa League clash against Real Betis. I don’t think he does. Liverpool were fantastic and United were lazy and nobody embodied their unfortunate performance more than Fernandes.
It was a night to forget for the Portuguese playmaker, whose performance and attitude were also commended by Sportmail’s IAN LADYMAN.
“All the relevant signs were there. David de Gea moans at Lisandro Martinez after scoring the first goal. Young Brazilian Antony (goals this season: six) waves his arms around Marcus Rashford (goals this season: 22) after losing the ball and choosing not to chase back number four.
‘And that’s before we get to Captain Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese is a talent. He’s a baby too. The great United captains over the years – like Keane, Robson, Cantona, Bruce – haven’t always had their way. Nobody is perfect. They all had bad days. But a captain’s armband comes with a responsibility to lead, to set an example, to keep one’s head held high.
“Fernandes showed absolutely none of that at Anfield. His most notable contributions came not from his feet but from his mouth.’
Captain Bruno Fernandes showed neither struggle nor leadership with his behavior on the pitch
The Portugal international was also highlighted by Roy Keane and Gary Neville during Sky Sports’ post-match match analysis.
Former United midfielder Keane said: “Fernandes’ body language was a disgrace today. He’s a really talented boy, he’s your captain. But his body language, waving his arms not going backwards, wouldn’t make you happy with him.
“Some of Fernandes’ behavior in that half was disgraceful,” said Neville.
Fernandes has represented most of the season as United captain for most of the season in the absence of Harry Maguire, who has seen limited minutes under Erik ten Hag but was one of his team’s worst performers on Sunday.
