Frustrated footballer Bruno Fernandes said if Manchester United can perform at Anfield, they must “do it everywhere” after the crisis-hit team earned a 2-2 draw against Premier League leaders Liverpool, the Sunday.
Cody Gakpo canceled out Lisandro Martínez's stunning opener for United on Sunday before Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot, but Amad Diallo scored a late equaliser.
United finished the game the stronger and defender Harry Maguire wasted a final chance to win the game by firing over the bar after a square pass from Joshua Zirkzee.
The point for Liverpool puts them six times ahead of second-placed Arsenal, with a game in hand. United are way down in 13th place, but at least they have ended their four-match losing streak.
“We have been criticised, and fairly so,” United captain Fernandes told Sky Sports. “Our position in the table says it all. We have lost too many points. Even today we cannot be happy with one point. We need the points and we could have won the game in the end, but it is a fair result. Both teams played good football.
“I'm quite upset. If we show this level at Liverpool, first in the league, why can't we do it everywhere? It frustrates me. Furthermore, I finally gave a proper performance. “We said we need a lot more from ourselves to get more out of this season.”
The midfielder said next week's FA Cup tie against Arsenal would be difficult for the defending champions, but “we want to get to the final again.”
“We know how difficult it is to play against Liverpool,” he said. “Today we put a lot of effort into the game. Playing with passion and heart is what will get you something out of the game. You have to make an effort and that's why we got something out of today.
“This cannot stop here. We have to take this frustration to the next game to understand that this has to be the level. “If we can do it at Anfield, we have to do it everywhere.”
👆 @LFC They are six points ahead of Arsenal after today's draw against Manchester United! #LIVMUN | #FestivalAccessories pic.twitter.com/uTOw1Tq3Si
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 5, 2025
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said it could have been worse for his team if Maguire had converted a late opportunity. “I'm definitely disappointed to lose points at home, but that's what it is and we have to move on and we will,” he said.
“We found it 2-1 and then it's about trying to manage the game and retain the ball for more than three or four passes. At times we lost the ball too easily and then we were more open than we should have been. We are not perfect. “We are still learning and we have to learn from this too.”
The defender said Liverpool had not underestimated United, despite their rivals' problems this season.
“That's all the media talks about,” he said. “It has nothing to do with us. We are preparing for a very tough game like the one we saw today. “We didn’t think about any of that.”
United manager Ruben Amorim has had a miserable start to his tenure at Old Trafford, with the club falling to six defeats in September, culminating in a run of four consecutive defeats.
“We are in a difficult moment,” Amorim told Sky Sports. “If you play against Liverpool every day, we will recover positions like that. But if you play against any opponent, we will have to do it. We have shown that we can do it. The way we were really competitive is what we have to move forward with.
“It's not just about the players, but about all the club staff. I'm happy about the performance, not the results. But I'm really angry about the other games,” Amorim continued after United suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, and sixth in the month of December, against Newcastle on Monday.
a look at @ManUtdAverage positions of their last two games 🔎
What stands out to you?
📊 @Oracle | #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/UG07jqgHCo
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 5, 2025
“Of course we are going to improve in training, but it is the way we approach the game, not from training,” he continued. “You can ask any fan: the way we fight, the way we kick, the way we fight for the ball. It's so clear.
“Today I feel like the players really wanted it. The important thing is not to relax tomorrow and return to the same performances. I will do everything possible to make the players understand that they have to suffer in a match. I'm really trying the basics and we need to move on.
“Congratulations for the performance, but not for the result. Everyone will say that the players did everything right, so I can be upset. [with them for the other results] today.”
