Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes claims that he does not need to say anything to his teammates about the magnitude of his side’s Premier League clash with Liverpool this weekend.
United knocked the Reds out of the FA Cup three weeks ago but have drawn to Brentford and lost in dramatic fashion to Chelsea in their two league matches since the international break. Across both games United conceded in the 99th, 100th, and 101st minutes, the latter two both coming in Thursday’s calamitous collapse at Stamford Bridge.
The Red Devils will be looking to bounce back against their northwest rivals, with Fernandes underscoring the significance of Sunday’s fixture.
“It’s a big game,” said Fernandes. “I don’t need to say anything [to my teammates]. If I need to say anything it’s a problem because this is a massive club”.
Liverpool will be looking to right some wrongs against the Manchester side. The Reds missed an opportunity to go top of the league in December when the sides drew 0-0 at Anfield, despite Jurgen Klopp’s sides having 68% possession and 34 shots.
Conceding a high volume of shots has become a theme of United’s season. They have faced 225 so far in 2024, the most of any ream in Europe’s top five leagues. The 526 shots against this Premier League season so far is already more than any other full season since 2003-04.
“In the last games we’ve conceded too many shots. It’s about defending your box,” Fernandes said.
On the Chelsea game, the Portuguese international said: “We had the game in our hands, and we gave it away. It’s frustrating. It’s difficult to take”.
Liverpool, who have now ascended to the summit of the Premier League, will be hoping they can record a more straightforward victory than the Blues’ record-breaking triumph, but simplicity has not been a term familiar to the Reds often this season.
The encounter at Old Trafford kicks off at 3.30pm on Sunday.