Bruno Fernandes accused of getting booked on purpose to miss Man United vs Reds

Richard Keys believes Bruno Fernandes was aware that being booked against Bournemouth would see him miss Manchester United's clash at Liverpool.

The United captain was shown his fifth Premier League yellow card of the season late on in their dismal 3-0 defeat against the Cherries.

As a result, he will be suspended for their next league fixture away at Anfield against rivals Liverpool, who sit top of the league.

United lost the fixture 7-0 last season, with Fernandes in particular having one of his worst performances since he joined the club.

However, he won't be available for the clash this time round and Keys has hinted that he got himself booked on purpose.

Co-host Andy Gray asked if he thinks Fernandes knew that he would miss the trip to Liverpool if he picked up a yellow card and Keys said: "Yes.

"I think he knows at 3-0 down, because I think that that last ten minutes, United stopped playing, it could have been four or five.

"I think he knows that next week could be a bad day out for them, and I think if we're all agreed that he knew if we he got booked he would miss the game, then I can't think of any other scenario whereby I could allow him the room to manoeuvre on that.

"Say, 'Well it was a heated moment.' It wasn't, I think he knew he gets booked and I think he knows he misses the game and I think that for me sums him up.

"He's not a captain, he's not a leader, his position has been questioned by proper Manchester United captains, people like Roy Keane, all season."

United's latest result adds to a theme of fluctuant performances this season, with defeat coming three days after they beat Chelsea 2-1.

Fernandes' credentials as captain have been questioned as legend Keane called for the armband to be taken off him following their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Amid the yellow card, United will now be without their captain for one of their biggest games of the season at Liverpool.

First though, Erik ten Hag and Co. will face Bayern Munich in a crucial Champions League clash on Tuesday night, with a win needed to stand a chance of making it to the last 16.