'Tasteless' Fernandes criticism critics called out after Man United star is singled out

The Portuguese star was among those called out following the Red Devils' 7-0 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool.

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With goal after goal flying in for the Reds, Gary Neville accused Fernandes of giving up and asking to be substituted.

Speaking during Sky Sports' commentary, Neville said: "Bruno Fernandes is stood in the centre circle with his arms raised saying 'why is it me not coming off?'

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"Honestly, I have to say some of his behaviour in the second half has been a disgrace."

He then added: "I've had enough of him throwing his arms about, not running about. That wasn't a captain's performance by him."

That view was then echoed by Patrice Evra, who told Rio Ferdinand on Five: "Honestly, it was embarrassing. I don't want to just pick Bruno, I love Bruno as a player, but his body language, this is not the first game it was like that. And I see him arguing with players sometimes.

"He has this thing and he needs to get rid of that. Paul Pogba used to have this also at Juventus, and Allegri benched him because of that. Sometimes it's a habit, sometimes it's not like Bruno is a bad person or whatever, it's just a habit.

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"I feel like no manager has taught him you can't do that. Like Rio can tell you, I remember when Nani wasn't crossing the ball to Wayne [Rooney], you remember Wayne the way he was shouting.

"That's when after the fans start hating Nani a little bit. So me, when I see this body language, as a manager, those players won't play in my team. No matter if they are good, because this is disrespectful, they give up."

But while the Manchester United alumni were critical of Fernandes, United Stand presenter Goldbridge hit out at those singling the Portuguese star out as the main problem at Anfield.

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Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, he said: "You don't solve the problem by individualising it and I thought that there was some shocking analysis on Sunday after the game when our captain, who has been fantastic this season, was accused of wanting to come off.

"That hits the public arena and everybody reacts.

"I was speaking to Ben Foster yesterday and he was talking about it, then afterwards you realise that he didn't do it.

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"Most of yesterday was people going in on Bruno Fernandes and you just can't individualise that performance.

"Luke Shaw was terrible, Rashford was terrible, Varane was terrible. As a team it was really bad and last season this was why Manchester United failed so badly because the blame was shifted all around the team, there was leaks from the dressing room.

"Yesterday an outlet reported a leak saying that players were upset with Bruno and maybe he shouldn't be captain and I'm like, 'woah'.

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"Who is upset in that dressing room and complaining to the press about Bruno? You want to take a look in the mirror, mate.

"I think that Bruno was terrible on Sunday but all of these people coming out, I think it's been bottled up because he's been petulant for two years. He's always been that player who goes down and gets in the referee's face. It's fine when we're winning.

"I don't mind rivals having a go, if you don't like Bruno then that's fine, but Man United fans, ex-players and journalists, I found that really tasteless yesterday and the problem was the team and not Bruno Fernandes, in my opinion."