Fernandes claims Liverpool fans lost faith in their own team during the defeat at Anfield.
Liverpool’s 2–1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield drew strong reactions from the visitors, with Bruno Fernandes quick to offer his take on the charged atmosphere inside the stadium.
The United captain suggested that frustration from the home crowd actually played into his team’s hands during what became Liverpool’s fourth straight loss in all competitions.
Speaking to the Evening News, Fernandes said United’s dominant first-half display unsettled sections of the Anfield support.
“The fans were making things harder for their own team, booing a bit and pushing them to move the ball quicker,” he explained. “That’s exactly the rhythm Liverpool want.”
The Portuguese midfielder added that by slowing the pace, United were able to “find huge gaps through the middle” and execute their first-half tactics “perfectly.”
It proved a frustrating afternoon for Arne Slot’s men, who hit the woodwork three times before Cody Gakpo briefly levelled the score. But Harry Maguire’s late header sealed a long-awaited win at Anfield for Ruben Amorim’s side.
The result left Liverpool third in the table and intensified pressure on the reigning champions after a challenging start to the season.
In the aftermath, Virgil van Dijk posted a photo of The Kop’s “Support & Believe” banner, calling for unity amid the club’s poor run of form.
Jamie Carragher also expressed alarm over Liverpool’s defensive struggles, commenting: “Liverpool just aren’t at it defensively right now. Until that changes, they won’t win the league.”
Those concerns may deepen following Fernandes’ remarks, which implied that Liverpool’s home crowd frustrations aligned perfectly with United’s tactical plan.
Slot, who kept faith with the same lineup that lost to Chelsea before the break, will now be tasked with reigniting both his team’s form and the belief of the Anfield faithful.
As Fernandes summed up: “We knew they felt the pressure when they had time on the ball… we just had to enjoy that.”
