Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned to social media to applaud Anthony Elanga in response to Liverpool’s shocking 1-0 defeat over Nottingham Forest.
Bruno Fernandes applauded Anthony Elanga, a former Manchester United teammate, on Instagram after Nottingham Forest ended Liverpool’s unbeaten season.
Prior to the international break, the Reds had won all three of their games under new head coach Arne Slot, and they came into Saturday’s meeting against Forest fresh off an amazing 3-0 victory against United.
However, a goal in the 72nd minute from Callum Hudson-Odoi, set up by Elanga, was enough to deliver Slot his first setback since succeeding Jurgen Klopp.
Elanga joined United’s academy as a teenager and went on to make 55 appearances before leaving last summer – his contribution at Anfield was not overlooked by Fernandes.
The Manchester United captain, 30, commented on Elanga’s social media post praising the victory, simply stating, “That assist, man.”
While United’s arch-rivals had a forgettable weekend, Erik ten Hag’s team cruised to a 3-0 victory over Southampton on the coast to kick off their season after suffering back-to-back defeats prior to the international break.
Matthijs de Ligt, Marcus Rashford, and Alejandro Garnacho scored on the south coast as United moved up to 10th in the Premier League rankings with their first win since the season’s opening day.
Ten Hag was once again under fire in the build-up to Saturday’s encounter, and things could have been worse for the Dutchman if Andre Onana had not saved Cameron Archer from a penalty kick when the game was tied.
United would go on to win comfortably, but Ten Hag thought his team should have scored more goals earlier on. He commented after the game: “I believe we could have scored earlier on; we had the chances and the control, and we created some decent chances to score the third goal earlier on.
“Of course, we are pleased when you bring on a sub who has an effect, and he [Garnacho] was the one who reduced the opponent to ten with good activity and then a good finish.
“I think also the rest [of Garnacho’s performance], I was happy with this sub and that is how players should act from the bench and we need more from this.”
