Gary Neville branded Bruno Fernandes' second-half showing "a disgrace" as Manchester United capitulated in their Premier League defeat to Liverpool.
Erik ten Hag's side conceded six second-half goals to lose 7-0 at Anfield on a dark day for United. Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all scored twice for the hosts with Roberto Firmino coming off the bench to put the gloss on the scoreline.
United had perhaps shaded the first half but went behind two minutes before the interval when Gakpo struck and the visitors fell apart in the second period. Neville, on pundit duty for Sky Sports, labelled Fernandes a disgrace and an embarrassment for his second-half showing as skipper.
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Neville, speaking as United introduced Anthony Elanga for the final few minutes, said: "Bruno Fernandes is stood in the centre circle with his arms raised saying why isn’t it me coming off? Honestly, I have to say that some of his behaviour in this second half has been a disgrace. He’s been brilliant for Manchester United at times, his assists and his goals."
He added: "Look, that first 40 minutes would be what I would call a classic away performance at Anfield where I thought Manchester United weathered the storm and it looked like they were gonna go and get the goal and go ahead at half-time, but they conceded just on the stroke of half-time.
"The second half has been an absolute disgrace, a shambles, epitomised no more by the captain Bruno Fernandes, who I think has been embarrassing at times in this game. But, I have to say, it’s not their usual performance, it’s not their usual form, it’s not their usual spirit, and he (Ten Hag) will deal with it, I’m sure. Very quickly, like he’s dealt with other difficult situations this season."
He continued: "You can have a bad game, this place can do that to you sometimes, we’ve seen it over history, but there were signs in that second half and things that I saw in that second half which were a disgrace.
"I must start with Bruno Fernandes because I’ve had enough of him throwing his arms around at his teammates. I’ve had enough of him not running back. He whinges at everybody. Going down - he got pushed down in his chest and goes down holding his face. He’s got to put in a captain’s performance out there, that wasn’t a captain’s performance by a Manchester United player.
"Erik ten Hag will deal with them very strongly in the next 24, 48 hours. He’s done that this season a few times, and I hope that normal service will have resumed by the end of next week, but they’ve got to own that performance today and they’ve got to own that result because they’ve lost seven nil at Anfield in a Manchester United shirt - it is a disgrace."
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