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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Manchester United sources deny Bruno Fernandes asked to be substituted vs Liverpool

Bruno Fernandes did not request to be substituted during Manchester United's defeat at Liverpool.

Former United captain Gary Neville, on co-commentary for broadcasters Sky Sports, claimed Fernandes was requesting to come off for Anthony Elanga when Marcus Rashford was withdrawn.

United sources say Fernandes sought clarification on his position after the 85th-minute change with Liverpool 6-0 up. Liverpool scored a seventh in the 88th minute.

Also read: United players report early for meeting with Ten Hag

During United's draw with Leicester on December 23 2017, Neville claimed Ander Herrera had "refused" to move to right-back shortly before Harry Maguire scored an added-time equaliser.

On Christmas Eve, Herrera tweeted: "Happy Christmas to everyone, including the ones that try to invent stories that never happened."

Fernandes was widely criticised for his conduct during United's 7-0 shellacking but the Football Association will not charge him after he placed his hand on the linesman. The incident was spotted by referee Andy Madley and was not included in his report.

All of the United players reported by 9am this morning for a recovery session and a debrief with manager Erik ten Hag, who arrived nearly two hours before the players.

United lost 7-0 for the first time since Boxing Day in 1931 at Anfield, where they have now gone eight games without a win. United have only won three times away at Liverpool since December 2007.

When Ten Hag was asked if the players had attempted to explain their capitulation at his post-match press conference, he replied: "No, I didn't give them the chance until now.

"We have to talk about that, I have only given my opinion about it and we will talk about that tomorrow. I know this team will reset and we have to bounce back and we have shown in the past we can.

"I analyse the performance of my team: how's their approach, how is their character, how's their mentality, how do they cooperate together, how do they deal with the setbacks? Look at the body language, how they communicate with each other.

"They didn't cooperate together anymore and they didn't fulfil their jobs. There are many things that makes me angry but to concede so easily the goals is definitely one of them."

"The result is quite obvious," Ten Hag added. "It's unprofessional. But I think it's a huge difference. In Brentford, we were 4-0 down at half-time, we started the game very bad.

"Today, first half, I think we were the better team. First half, we created the better chances and we had two one-on-ones with the goalie and they hadn't. Before half time, we made one mistake, organisation, concede a goal. And so I think we were in the game.

"So it was a real surprise to me after half time so quickly gave the game away. First two goals two defensive transition moments, first was a turnover, second was a counter. Bad decisions. Decisions on the ball, that was on the first one, obviously.

"But how we anticipate, how we concede the goal is really annoying and then the third was a counter, also so unprofessional about decisions: following in, running in, moving forward, giving the space away in the back end of midfield, not tracking back; especially that one, not tracking back.

"Then it's 3-0, the game is gone, as a team, you have to stick together and that is what we didn't do. It was a surprise for me, I haven't seen this from my team I don't think it's us, I don't think it's Manchester United. It's really bad and poor."

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