Fans were treated to a surprise performance when Liverpool hosted Manchester United on Sunday evening and the outcome of the match got Bruno Fernandes, captain of the Red Devils, wondering why his team could not play the same way every game.
Ruben Amorim went to Anfield with his usual 3-4-3 formation and a bench that did not include Marcus Rashford—a situation that has come to be expected. Arne Slot maintained his formation and counted on his leading men to do damage, just as they have always done in this fixture in recent years.
While Anfield sang and chanted, Slot was sweating under his clothes at the touchline from where he watched. The United team he expected to face was not the one that took to the pitch. They were solid at the back, resolute in going forward, and played a good game in the midfield. Both teams were even for most of the game.
United would break the deadlock a little before the hour mark and that would set off a chain of attacks that would see both teams score four goals in total within the next 30 minutes. The 2 – 2 scoreline was the best that both teams could draw out and it was a deserved point for both.
For Liverpool, it was not a surprise although they would be disappointed not to have gotten their own three points from a Man United side that looked so willing to give it up in previous games. For United, however, it was a surprising performance.
It was so surprising, in fact, that Fernandes, the team’s captain, literally asked his teammates why they could not play the same way they played against Liverpool at every other game before Sunday’s.
“Obviously, [we were] criticised and fairly because the position in the table says it all, that we lost too many points, even today,” said Fernandes. “We can’t be happy with a draw because we need points more than they need points, to be honest.
“I think it’s a really good result and we could have even won the game at the end but I think it’s a fair result. Both teams played really good football, intense. Some good chances from both sides but we can’t be satisfied, to be honest, and I’m pretty upset because, if we can show this today against Liverpool at Anfield, who are first in the league and who have been probably the outstanding team in the league this season, why can’t we do this every week?
“I think, finally, I had a good performance overall and I needed to. I said before the game I think we need much more from ourselves to get something from this season. We need to put some pride out because it’s not enough for us.”
