Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has criticized Bruno Fernandes and Aaron Wan-Bissaka for their defending in the lead-up to Liverpool’s controversial penalty.
Rooney singled out Fernandes and Wan-Bissaka for their defensive lapses, which allowed Liverpool to earn a vital equalizer from the penalty spot in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Luis Diaz took advantage of United’s lackluster defending to put Liverpool ahead in the first half, but Fernandes equalized early in the second half with a stunning long-range effort after a mistake by Jarell Quansah.
After Kobbie Mainoo scored to put United ahead, Liverpool were handed a late penalty when Wan-Bissaka fouled Harvey Elliot, allowing Mohamed Salah to convert the equalizer.
Rooney criticized the defending leading up to the penalty, particularly highlighting Fernandes and Wan-Bissaka for their poor approach in trying to keep Liverpool at bay and secure three points for United.
Rooney expressed his disappointment with United’s defensive efforts, lamenting the absence of players like Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand, who were known for their robustness and reliability during his playing days under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Commenting on the sequence of events, Rooney stated, “When you go back a bit, Bruno Fernandes is too easy to get past when Joe Gomez is taking his run down the line.
Bruno dives in and lets him get past, which is why Aaron Wan-Bissaka then has to come out. If he stays on his feet you don’t get to this situation. But it’s very poor from Wan-Bissaka. It’s sloppy. When you go to ground like that, you run the risk of giving a penalty away.”
Despite Rooney’s criticism, there has been backlash over the referee’s decision to award the penalty, as footage showed minimal contact from Wan-Bissaka on Elliot.
Some felt the penalty was harsh on United, as new footage revealed that contact occurred after Wan-Bissaka had already begun to fall to the ground.
Upon review, it appeared Wan-Bissaka’s decision to dive in was hasty, giving the referee a decision to make.
However, in hindsight, United might have deserved maximum points, which could have had implications in the title race.
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