Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes gives verdict over Casemiro performance during their last match shameful defeat against Liverpool

On Sunday, Manchester United suffered a humbling 3-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool, with much of the post-match criticism centered on the performance of Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder found himself at the heart of the team’s defensive collapse, particularly during the first half when he was at fault for both of Liverpool’s opening goals. Bruno Fernandes, however, was quick to defend his teammate, arguing that it’s unfair to single out one player for such a collective loss.

The trouble began when Casemiro lost possession, which led to two quickfire Liverpool goals. Playing at Old Trafford, United’s hopes were dashed early, as Casemiro’s errors opened the door for Luis Díaz to find the back of the net twice. At halftime, the Brazilian was substituted, with young Toby Collyer stepping in to fill the gap. Unfortunately, this shift did little to stem the tide of Liverpool’s momentum. In the second half, another mistake, this time from Kobbie Mainoo, saw Mohamed Salah pounce, sealing the 3-0 scoreline.

This defeat leaves United limping into the international break with only three points from their matches against Fulham, Brighton, and Liverpool. The loss has also reignited conversations about Casemiro’s form, with many pundits and fans questioning his role in the team. Last season, the 32-year-old’s form was already a concern, and this latest performance is likely to intensify the scrutiny.

During the summer transfer window, some fans called for Casemiro to be sold, but no serious offers came through. Now, after another poor showing, the question of whether United should have moved on from the Brazilian will be raised once more. However, in the aftermath of the defeat, Bruno Fernandes refused to lay the blame solely at Casemiro’s feet or even at Mainoo’s, who was also caught out during the lead-up to a goal.In an interview with Sky Sports, Fernandes expressed his frustration but maintained that individual errors weren’t the root cause of the loss. “We started the game well and created more chances,” the United captain said. “As we saw in the Fulham match, we need to be more clinical. Liverpool played like professionals, and that’s why they won. We can’t dwell on one or two mistakes; it’s about the whole team.”

Fernandes continued, explaining that in football, goals often come from mistakes, but it’s part of the game. “When you concede a goal, it’s always because of an error. But now is not the time to point fingers. Blaming one player doesn’t solve anything.” He added that it would be unfair to single out Casemiro or Mainoo for losing possession. “They were trying to make something happen, and that’s what football is. You take risks, and sometimes they don’t pay off.”
The captain was also asked whether he would speak with Casemiro after the match to offer support. Fernandes shrugged off the suggestion, emphasizing that the Brazilian doesn’t need advice from him. “Casemiro has played for two of the biggest clubs in the world. He’s more experienced than I am. He knows how football works, and I don’t need to remind him of that.”

Fernandes also praised Mainoo, a younger player who is still finding his footing in the team. “Kobbie is a fantastic young talent. These mistakes will help him grow, and I want him to continue playing with confidence. Both he and Casemiro are vital to this squad, and we will need them moving forward.”
In conclusion, Fernandes was philosophical about the loss. “We need to stop looking at what went wrong in the past and focus on improving. Congratulations to Liverpool—they were the better team today, and they deserved to win. The game was close in certain moments, but stats don’t matter when you lose like this.”

Manchester United will now look to regroup before their next fixture on September 14 against Southampton, where they’ll hope to bounce back and begin collecting points again after a difficult start to the season.Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday highlighted defensive lapses, with Casemiro’s performance coming under heavy scrutiny. The Brazilian midfielder’s mistakes were instrumental in Liverpool’s first-half goals, particularly when he lost possession leading to both of Luis Díaz’s goals. The early double setback at Old Trafford made it difficult for United to recover. At halftime, manager Erik ten Hag decided to substitute Casemiro, bringing in young Toby Collyer to steady the midfield, but the switch did little to curb Liverpool’s momentum. A second-half error from Kobbie Mainoo allowed Mohamed Salah to score, sealing a comfortable 3-0 win for Liverpool.

The defeat left Manchester United with only three points from their first three matches, igniting concerns about Casemiro’s form, which had been an issue even last season. While some fans had suggested selling Casemiro during the summer transfer window, no serious offers materialized, and his recent performance has only fueled further debate about his future with the club.

However, Bruno Fernandes came to Casemiro’s defense in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. The United captain emphasized that it was unfair to blame any single player for a collective failure. “When you concede a goal, it’s always because of an error. But now is not the time to point fingers. Blaming one player doesn’t solve anything,” Fernandes remarked, stressing the importance of viewing the game as a team effort. He praised both Casemiro for his experience and Mainoo for his potential, noting that mistakes are part of football and can be learning experiences, especially for younger players like Mainoo.

Fernandes urged the team to focus on improvement rather than dwell on individual errors. “We need to stop looking at what went wrong in the past and focus on improving. Congratulations to Liverpool—they were the better team today, and they deserved to win,” he added, taking a philosophical approach to the defeat.

With Manchester United facing Southampton on September 14, the team will need to regroup and find solutions quickly to turn their season around after a rocky start.