It’s time we talk about Bruno Fernandes, and not in the way Manchester United fans may hope.
Manager Ruben Amorim pushed hard for a new central midfielder over the summer. Having invested at both ends of the pitch, the middle was overlooked. Not that Man Utd didn’t strive to bolster a key area. Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba was a primary target but a move failed to materialise.
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Adam Wharton has since emerged as a possibility, yet Man Utd aren’t the only side in for the Crystal Palace star. Man Utd are out to bolster in the middle of the park sooner rather than later. As such, Amorim has routinely favoured a midfield pivot of Fernandes and Casemiro in the much-maligned 3-4-2-1 setup.
In theory, it’s a partnership that works. Fernandes is on the ball more regularly, with Man Utd’s most creative player able to influence games earlier as play progresses upfield. Casemiro, meanwhile, brings the muscle to shield the defence. However, there are glaring weaknesses to the duo.
Man Utd’s midfield pairing
Casemiro’s best years are behind him and at 33 years of age; he’s very much in the twilight years of his career. Fernandes’ best work, meanwhile, comes closer to the opposition goal. Granted, he’s created more chances (19) than any other Premier League player this season. Yet the Portugal international is yet to make an accurate through ball and has created just one big chance.
Fans can appreciate the decision to use Fernandes in a deeper role. It means Amorim is able to field new signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in the attacking trident. Feeding the trio is vital, with Fernandes the man to provide the ammunition.
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The downside, though, comes in Fernandes needing to prioritise his defensive duties on occasion. Man Utd’s possession average of 52.9% ranks eighth in the Premier League this season. It means Amorim’s side do often find themselves on the backfoot. In turn, Fernandes needs to expend his energy preventing attacks rather than instigating them.
With an indifferent midfield pairing, it does mean that Man Utd have conceded more counter-attacking goals (3) than any other Premier League team this season. They are so often caught in transition when they do commit men forward. No wonder Amorim wants another midfielder.
Exploiting Fernandes’ off-ball work
Then there are Fernandes’ off-ball deficiencies that can be exploited with ease. Only Wolves man Joao Gomes (17) has been dribbled past more times than Man Utd’s captain (13) in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign. While 27 attempted tackles is more than any other Man Utd player, it’s a huge waste of the captain’s talent.
It also leaves a relatively flaky Man Utd defence dangerously exposed. This could prove a huge problem in Sunday’s clash at Liverpool. While the Reds haven’t looked quite the cohesive unit this season, Arne Slot still boasts one of the most effective midfield units to call upon.
In his favoured 4-2-3-1 system, they already have the midfield superiority. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister is a solid base to call upon. The duo have forged a title-winning partnership that brings tenacity, distribution and drive. Throw in Florian Wirtz or Dominik Szoboszlai, and it’s an incredibly energetic trio that’ll immediately seek dominance in a key area.
Admittedly, Man Utd rank top for possession won in the midfield third (153) in the Premier League this season. However, for a side that ranks eighth for possession, that is to be expected. By comparison, Liverpool rank third for the above metric (141) with the best possession haul (61.8%).
Liverpool to capitalise on midfield rigidity?
When they lose the ball, they relentlessly hunt down possession to quickly regain control. Man Utd lack press-resistant options in the middle of the park, which means they are prone to sacrificing possession when under pressure. Indeed, Casemiro boasts a Premier League pass accuracy of just 82.94% while Fernandes is lower at 81.09%. The latter return can be attributed to Fernandes taking more risks on the ball, but it’s a concern.
The gap between the midfield and attack also forces more long balls to be played, which results in turnovers. Fernandes ranks top (61) and Casemiro fourth (26) for total long balls by outfielders for Man Utd in the Premier League this season. This isn’t want you want to see from the starting central midfield pairing.
Sunday’s clash between Liverpool and Man Utd will be won in the midfield. Even if Amorim opts to use Mason Mount as one of the two 10s to help pack out the midfield, Man Utd have a hell of a battle on their hands this weekend. The rigidity and lack of athleticism between an already-outnumbered Fernandes and Casemiro axis could prove disastrous at Anfield.