‘Don’t fancy going to Anfield!’ – Did Bruno Fernandes get banned on purpose to miss Liverpool game – as suggested by former Man Utd striker?

Bruno Fernandes will miss Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool, with Michael Owen joking that the Portuguese picked up a ban on purpose.

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• Red Devils skipper has five bookings
• Will sit out trip to Merseyside
• Disciplinary record called into question

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils skipper collected his fifth booking of the season during a demoralising 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth at Old Trafford. He must now serve a suspension, meaning that he will be unavailable to Erik ten Hag for a testing trip to Anfield.

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  WHAT OWEN SAID ABOUT FERNANDES

  Former Liverpool and United striker Owen has told of Fernandes’ disciplinary record and why he may not have fancied a visit to Merseyside: “I wonder how many yellow cards he’s had for dissent and waving his arms about. Possibly you don’t fancy going to Anfield. I wouldn’t at the moment. I’m not sure you’re thinking of the next game when you’re in the thick of playing. He should be responsible; he should be a good ambassador and a leader for the team. We all know referees are clamping down on that and he gets booked an awful lot for a player who hardly puts his foot in and tackles. Really, he gets booked an awful lot.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fernandes has never been sent off in his Premier League career, but he has picked up 29 cautions through 140 appearances in the English top-flight. As club captain at Old Trafford, he is expected to lead by example.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  United are due to face arch-rivals Liverpool next Sunday – as Jurgen Klopp’s side sit at the top of the Premier League table – but prior to that they have a must-win clash with Bayern Munich to take in, which Fernandes will be available for as the Red Devils seek to avoid slipping out of European competition in 2023-24.