Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes will line up against Liverpool despite a minor car crash on the eve of the game. Getty
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes will line up against Liverpool despite a minor car crash on the eve of the game. Getty
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes will line up against Liverpool despite a minor car crash on the eve of the game. Getty
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes will line up against Liverpool despite a minor car crash on the eve of the game. Getty

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes fit to face Liverpool despite car crash


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Bruno Fernandes will be fit for Manchester United's Premier League trip to Liverpool despite being involved in a car crash on Monday.

No one involved is understood to have sustained serious injuries and Fernandes took part in training with the rest of the United squad on the eve of the game at Anfield.

"Obviously the accident happened on the way to Carrington, but as far as I know nobody was injured," United manager Ralf Rangnick said.

"He trained with the team and he was ok. That's why I think he will also be ok for tomorrow."

Both sides are in desperate need of the points for different reasons.

Liverpool can go top with victory over their old rivals, who they thrashed 5-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

United needed a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick to see off bottom-of-the-table Norwich 3-2 on Saturday, but defeats for Arsenal and Tottenham have given Rangnick's side new life in the fight for a place in the top four and next season's Champions League.

"It's only about our situation and after last weekend's results we are still in the race for the top four," added Rangnick. "In order to stay in that race, we have to win almost every game, starting with tomorrow.

“It’s up to us. We definitely will travel there tomorrow and try to get the three points. This is what it’s all about.

“It’s not about the situation they’re in, it’s about our own situation."

However, Rangnick was scathing in his assessment of his own side's performance out of possession against Norwich at the weekend.

Manchester United v Norwich ratings

  • MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 8 - Rushed out to save from Pukki in a very dangerous second minute Norwich attack and was needed three times in the first half. Could do little to stop Norwich’s opener bar curse the players in front of him. Excellent save from Rashica and his highly motivated Norwich side on 56. AP
    MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 8 - Rushed out to save from Pukki in a very dangerous second minute Norwich attack and was needed three times in the first half. Could do little to stop Norwich’s opener bar curse the players in front of him. Excellent save from Rashica and his highly motivated Norwich side on 56. AP
  • Diogo Dalot 6 - Stretched to try and direct a 17th minute cross towards goal. Wonderful third man run and cross to Lingard on 31. Beaten in the run up to Norwich’s goal. Key block from Rashica on 70. Beaten by balls and made recoveries but needs to improve. Getty
    Diogo Dalot 6 - Stretched to try and direct a 17th minute cross towards goal. Wonderful third man run and cross to Lingard on 31. Beaten in the run up to Norwich’s goal. Key block from Rashica on 70. Beaten by balls and made recoveries but needs to improve. Getty
  • Victor Lindelof 6 - Right position at right time to stop a 35th minute Norwich attack. But individual moments paled when compared with the collective mistakes and lack of strategy for his team. AFP
    Victor Lindelof 6 - Right position at right time to stop a 35th minute Norwich attack. But individual moments paled when compared with the collective mistakes and lack of strategy for his team. AFP
  • Harry Maguire 5 - Came out too far to leave a space behind him for Norwich’s opening goal. At 91 minutes in, his side needed to keep possession – he kicked it too high out of play so Norwich got it back. PA
    Harry Maguire 5 - Came out too far to leave a space behind him for Norwich’s opening goal. At 91 minutes in, his side needed to keep possession – he kicked it too high out of play so Norwich got it back. PA
  • Alex Telles 4 - Beaten by a ball to set up Pukki in the second minute. Crossed for Ronaldo head the second on 31. Not alert enough for Dowell’s goal and chasing the ball for Pukki’s second. Poor positioning. Getty
    Alex Telles 4 - Beaten by a ball to set up Pukki in the second minute. Crossed for Ronaldo head the second on 31. Not alert enough for Dowell’s goal and chasing the ball for Pukki’s second. Poor positioning. Getty
  • Paul Pogba 7 - Single holding midfielder in a deeper role than usual. Intercepted well, took the ball out of the air and nutmegged an opponent. Ear blooded by Maguire’s boot. PA
    Paul Pogba 7 - Single holding midfielder in a deeper role than usual. Intercepted well, took the ball out of the air and nutmegged an opponent. Ear blooded by Maguire’s boot. PA
  • Bruno Fernandes 5 - Busy as ever but gave the ball away too much. Won a high ball to stop a 44th minute Norwich attack. Still not the force he was, but then nor are his team. AFP
    Bruno Fernandes 5 - Busy as ever but gave the ball away too much. Won a high ball to stop a 44th minute Norwich attack. Still not the force he was, but then nor are his team. AFP
  • Jesse Lingard 7 - Rare start and positive combination with Sancho and saw a ninth minute shot deflected wide. Stumbled in front of goal as the ball came to him on 40. Stretched to snuff out another Norwich attack on 43. Smart backheel to Ronaldo on 46. Disappointed to come off, but his team needed more protection. Getty
    Jesse Lingard 7 - Rare start and positive combination with Sancho and saw a ninth minute shot deflected wide. Stumbled in front of goal as the ball came to him on 40. Stretched to snuff out another Norwich attack on 43. Smart backheel to Ronaldo on 46. Disappointed to come off, but his team needed more protection. Getty
  • Jadon Sancho 6 - Lively start on right of a front three, but he often switched to go left. Shot wide on 22. Linked well with Lingard. PA
    Jadon Sancho 6 - Lively start on right of a front three, but he often switched to go left. Shot wide on 22. Linked well with Lingard. PA
  • Anthony Elanga 7 - On left of front three and won the ball superbly to set up Ronaldo for the opener on 7. Lovely strike on 50 and some decent defending. Getty
    Anthony Elanga 7 - On left of front three and won the ball superbly to set up Ronaldo for the opener on 7. Lovely strike on 50 and some decent defending. Getty
  • Cristiano Ronaldo 9 - Side-footed a gift of a chance for the opening goal on seven minutes. Attacked the ball and headed in the second on 31. Attempted an overhead kick on 39. Sidefooted wide after 46 then scored his 50th hat-trick - a beautiful free-kick - of his career to win the game on 76. EPA
    Cristiano Ronaldo 9 - Side-footed a gift of a chance for the opening goal on seven minutes. Attacked the ball and headed in the second on 31. Attempted an overhead kick on 39. Sidefooted wide after 46 then scored his 50th hat-trick - a beautiful free-kick - of his career to win the game on 76. EPA
  • SUBS: Nemanja Matic 7 - On for Lingard to steady the side, which he did. Reuters
    SUBS: Nemanja Matic 7 - On for Lingard to steady the side, which he did. Reuters
  • Juan Mata 7 - On for Telles on 73. He should become a sneak thief when he stops playing. He gets into spaces that don't exist. Controlled the tempo, showed his experience. Getty
    Juan Mata 7 - On for Telles on 73. He should become a sneak thief when he stops playing. He gets into spaces that don't exist. Controlled the tempo, showed his experience. Getty
  • Marcus Rashford 5 - On for Pogba on 73. Lively but ineffective. Reuters
    Marcus Rashford 5 - On for Pogba on 73. Lively but ineffective. Reuters
  • NORWICH RATINGS: Tim Krul 5 – Three goals conceded but the goalkeeper had too much to deal with at Old Trafford, with Ralf Rangnick's side firing regular shots. Couldn't keep out Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick that completed his hat-trick. Getty
    NORWICH RATINGS: Tim Krul 5 – Three goals conceded but the goalkeeper had too much to deal with at Old Trafford, with Ralf Rangnick's side firing regular shots. Couldn't keep out Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick that completed his hat-trick. Getty
  • Dimitris Giannoulis 6 – The full-back was dangerous when getting forward and came agonisingly close to picking up an assist, his cross inches away from Teemu Pukki's diving attempt to head home. AFP
    Dimitris Giannoulis 6 – The full-back was dangerous when getting forward and came agonisingly close to picking up an assist, his cross inches away from Teemu Pukki's diving attempt to head home. AFP
  • Ben Gibson 4 – Struggled with the presence of Ronaldo in a display that the defender would rather put behind him as soon as possible. Not good enough with costly errors marking an all-round disappointing performance. AP
    Ben Gibson 4 – Struggled with the presence of Ronaldo in a display that the defender would rather put behind him as soon as possible. Not good enough with costly errors marking an all-round disappointing performance. AP
  • Grant Hanley 7 – A strong display often saw him stop United attacks. The Scotland international was Dean Smith's side's best player in defence, reading the play quickly to redirect dangerous balls in the box. Getty
    Grant Hanley 7 – A strong display often saw him stop United attacks. The Scotland international was Dean Smith's side's best player in defence, reading the play quickly to redirect dangerous balls in the box. Getty
  • Sam Byram 6 – Had a chance to score at the far post but couldn't keep his header down. Put in a good display against Jadon Sancho. AFP
    Sam Byram 6 – Had a chance to score at the far post but couldn't keep his header down. Put in a good display against Jadon Sancho. AFP
  • Kenny McLean 6 – A difficult task in midfielde saw him have to deal with United's late flurry, but he often kept his cool in the middle and maintained possession for the Canaries. AFP
    Kenny McLean 6 – A difficult task in midfielde saw him have to deal with United's late flurry, but he often kept his cool in the middle and maintained possession for the Canaries. AFP
  • Mathias Normann 5 – Struggled to make an impact in a difficult midfield battle against Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. EPA
    Mathias Normann 5 – Struggled to make an impact in a difficult midfield battle against Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. EPA
  • Milot Rashica 5 – Tried to play direct when on the ball but it didn't always come off. Ralf Rangnick's side looked to have recognised his threat and made a plan to ensure he wasn't as effective on the counter-attack. AFP
    Milot Rashica 5 – Tried to play direct when on the ball but it didn't always come off. Ralf Rangnick's side looked to have recognised his threat and made a plan to ensure he wasn't as effective on the counter-attack. AFP
  • Pierre Lees-Melou 5 – Asked questions of the defence with his deliveries but could have done better to take care of the ball at times. Looked to have picked up a slight knock. PA
    Pierre Lees-Melou 5 – Asked questions of the defence with his deliveries but could have done better to take care of the ball at times. Looked to have picked up a slight knock. PA
  • Kieran Dowell 8 – Played with freedom and his persistence was rewarded as he scored before applying the perfect touch on the pass for Teemu Pukki's equaliser. EPA
    Kieran Dowell 8 – Played with freedom and his persistence was rewarded as he scored before applying the perfect touch on the pass for Teemu Pukki's equaliser. EPA
  • Teemu Pukki 8 – A 10th goal of the season for the Finland international. Smart movement saw him slowly drift away from the Manchester United defence before he accelerated to finish at David De Gea's near post. Getty
    Teemu Pukki 8 – A 10th goal of the season for the Finland international. Smart movement saw him slowly drift away from the Manchester United defence before he accelerated to finish at David De Gea's near post. Getty
  • SUBS: Billy Gilmour (McLean 73) – Introduced to add energy into the Norwich midfield and was impressive on the ball, helping transition play into attacking areas. An incisive pass put Rashica through late but the forward couldn't create anything from it. Reuters
    SUBS: Billy Gilmour (McLean 73) – Introduced to add energy into the Norwich midfield and was impressive on the ball, helping transition play into attacking areas. An incisive pass put Rashica through late but the forward couldn't create anything from it. Reuters
  • Przemyslaw Placheta (Dowell 73) – Looked to support the attack with forward runs. Jon Rowe (Lees-Melou, 82) – On for the final minutes. Getty
    Przemyslaw Placheta (Dowell 73) – Looked to support the attack with forward runs. Jon Rowe (Lees-Melou, 82) – On for the final minutes. Getty

"We must be at our very best defensively but still have an approach to the game where we can be a threat," said the German.

"We still know that if we raise our level, if we play a top performance, we have a chance to get three points and this will be our ambition and our goal for tomorrow."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was influenced by Rangnick's methods early in his coaching career, but Klopp said the pair's relationship has been "on hold" since Rangnick arrived in England.

"We didn't have contact since he is in England, since he is at United. I think that's just a mutual respect - I respect his job, he respects my job," said Klopp.

Liverpool are overwhelming favourites to inflict more misery on United and take another step towards a potential quadruple of trophies.

Klopp's side have already won the League Cup, will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final next month and take on Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals.

"Two of the biggest clubs in the world for sure face each other. Massive history around, big fights in the past, big fights since I'm here," added Klopp.

"This time it's an incredibly important game again for both teams. That says it all."

Updated: April 18, 2022, 2:22 PM