Jamie Carragher has hailed one of Manchester United’s stars as a possible all-time great following their 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday evening.
Manchester United and Bournemouth played out a 4-4 thriller on Monday, with Rúben Amorim’s side missing the chance to climb into the top five.
United started on the front foot, with Amad heading them ahead early. Bournemouth soon responded through Antoine Semenyo, but Casemiro restored United’s lead just before half-time from a Bruno Fernandes corner. Evanilson quickly levelled again after the break.
Marcus Tavernier then gave Bournemouth the lead with a brilliant free-kick. Amorim brought on Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Šeško, and Lisandro Martínez, and Fernandes curled in a stunning free-kick to make it 3-3.
Matheus Cunha briefly put United ahead, but Eli Junior Kroupi struck to make it 4-4. Two late saves from Senne Lammens kept the score level, leaving United frustrated and with just a point at Old Trafford.
Fernandes could be an all-time Premier League great
Of the eight goals scored at Old Trafford, there is no doubt the best of the bunch was the free kick from Fernandes to make the score 3-3. Stepping up when needed, the United captain whipped the ball into the top right corner, making the impossible look easy.
When reacting to the goal for Sky Sports, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher chose against talking about the finish specifically, but instead stated he feels that if Fernandes had collected more trophies, he’d be seen as an all-time great of the Premier League.
“Listen, he’s just a brilliant player, isn’t he? You know, he has his critics, but it’s not for his football,” Carragher started.
“I mean, you think of the goals and the assists he’s got. And if he had a few more trophies, if he won a Premier League or maybe a Champions League with Manchester United, we’d probably talk about one of the greatest sort of foreign players, certainly, to come to our show.
“But because he hasn’t quite got that [no one says it], but his numbers stack up as much as anybody’s.”
Fernandes better suited to a back four
Against Bournemouth, United deployed a less structured defence, with the side playing with four defenders instead of three for the first time under Amorim.
While there is a lot of focus on the defensive line, the back four’s presence created further cover in the middle, allowing Fernandes to step forward and unleash his attacking attributes.
He ran the game from the middle of the park, completing the most passes (44), the most chances (5), and having 80 touches, proving himself once again that he is still an attacking juggernaut.
Fernandes has been held back in his deeper role for the best part of a year, and if he can be played further forward more often, AMorim may find himself playing with a United captain who is back to his very best.
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