Bruno Fernandes has voiced his frustration with Manchester United's ongoing inconsistency following their 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. Despite a dramatic late equalizer from Amad Diallo, which salvaged a point for United after Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah’s penalty had overturned Lisandro Martinez's early goal, the result highlighted deeper concerns for the team. United's record at Anfield has been dismal, with the draw extending their winless run to 10 consecutive away games against Liverpool across all competitions, a statistic that has now become their longest streak in such fixtures.
Interestingly, United’s goal tally in this match (2) equaled the number of goals they had scored in their previous 10 away games at Liverpool combined. This statistic reflects the overall struggles that have plagued the team in recent years, particularly when playing away against top-tier opposition. The draw left United still searching for their first away victory at Liverpool since 2016, marking a clear lack of progress in this crucial fixture. Their last win in any competition came on December 15 against Manchester City, but they have since failed to find the same level of consistency.
Despite United showing signs of improvement at Anfield, including some promising moments of attacking play, Harry Maguire squandered a golden opportunity in stoppage time to win the game for his side, leaving fans and players alike to lament missed chances. The performance, however, wasn’t without merit, and United did show resilience in fighting back from a 2-1 deficit. Yet, Fernandes wasn’t entirely satisfied, as he questioned why the team cannot replicate such performances consistently across all matches.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Fernandes pointed out the critical importance of securing victories, especially with the team’s current position in the league standings. “Criticised and fairly because the position in the table says it all, we lost too many points,” Fernandes said. He stressed that the team cannot afford to be content with a draw, especially against rivals like Liverpool, who were also fighting to maintain their place in the upper half of the table. “We can't be happy with a draw because we need points more than they did,” he added, indicating the pressure United is under to consistently deliver positive results.
Looking ahead, Manchester United will face Arsenal in the FA Cup, a team that handed United manager Ruben Amorim his first defeat in charge earlier in December. This upcoming clash presents a fresh challenge for United as they aim to build on the improvements shown at Anfield while seeking to improve their consistency in both league and cup competitions. With their current form under scrutiny, United will need to address their issues of inconsistency if they are to challenge for silverware and finish the season on a strong note.
