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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp fumes as Bruno Fernandes red card attempt fails

Liverpool's disappointing start to the new Premier League season continued with a dreadful defeat against Manchester United on Monday.

Mohamed Salah's late goal wasn't enough as the Reds slumped to a 2-1 loss against their bitter North West rivals. The result means Jurgen Klopp’s side have made their worst start to a league season under his tenure.

But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Old Trafford.

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JURGEN KLOPP: What Bruno Fernandes said to Liverpool boss in 'emotional' exchange

Klopp queries Alisson

Alisson Becker was one of the few Liverpool players to reach anywhere near his level against United. But that wasn't enough to spare him the wrath of a hugely-annoyed Jurgen Klopp.

After the goalkeeper inexplicably belted the ball out of play when attempting to find a team-mate in a wide position, the Reds boss could be heard belting out: "What's wrong with you? Are you okay? Come on!"

Mind you, given what was transpiring in front of him, there was every reason for Alisson to be spooked.

Fabinho failure

Anyone wondering why Bruno Fernandes would rarely win a popularity contest involving Premier League footballers was given resounding evidence on Monday.

Not content with diving in an attempt to win a penalty - for which he was rightly booked - and then involved in an altercation with Mohamed Salah - for which he should also have been booked - the petulant Portuguese also attempted late on to have a couple of Liverpool players dismissed, particularly when flailing on the floor after a minor brush with Fabinho.

Thankfully, referee Michael Oliver was having none of it. But Fernandes, as with his near own-goal in the first half, had ultimately got away with it once again.

Murphy's lure

The biggest game in English football brought a whole host of former footballers to the press room. Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor were there, so too former Denmark great Michael Laudrup.

Danny Murphy, scorer of three Liverpool winners at Old Trafford in the 2000s, was another in attendance, and he was cornered during the half-time break by one hack.

"They need you on there for the second half, Danny," was the call. The ex-Reds midfielder could only laugh in response.

Things don't change

Apart from the occasional vociferous anti-Glazer chant, United's improved performance perhaps contributed to the lack of expected protest inside Old Trafford from home supporters.

Instead, a disappointing number of United followers were far too interested in taunting the away end with songs referring to the Hillsborough and Heysel disasters, choosing to ignore the pre-match plea not to plumb such depths from prominent fan figures on both sides.

And the sad fact is until more is done to educate these imbeciles, such chants will remain an unwanted feature of this fixture.

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