Phil Neville brands Richard Keys ‘a disgrace’ for accusing Bruno Fernandes of deliberately getting booked to miss Manchester United’s game at Liverpool next Sunday

Phil Neville has passionately defended Bruno Fernandes after Richard Keys accused the Manchester United captain of deliberately booking himself to miss the game against Liverpool next weekend.

Fernandes picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in United’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Saturday for arguing with the referee, meaning he will serve a one-game ban for the trip to Anfield.

BeIN Sports presenter Richard Keys told fellow presenter Andy Gray at the time that he believed the United captain was deliberately booked to miss the game against the Premier League leaders.

But speaking to NBC on Sunday morning, former United player Neville rejected the proposals.

“I think it’s ridiculous talk, whoever said it publicly is a disgrace,” Neville said. If you look at Bruno Fernandes, I love Bruno Fernandes, he cares about Manchester United.

Phil Neville defended Bruno Fernandes after he received his fifth yellow card of the season.

Fernandes’ latest warning means he will miss the game against Liverpool next weekend.

United were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth in the Premier League as their season hit a new low.

“Look at the teams in the top six, this is the player I would take. Look at one player who comes out of the game after a defeat – Bruno Fernandes.

“Captains have played like Bruno Fernandes over the years. Roy Keane whined and whined like Bruno Fernandes. He is the best player in this team, he plays on the right wing, in central midfield and he just gets on with it because he cares about the club.”

On Sunday, Keys further ramped up his speculation about Fernandes, writing on X: “For the avoidance of doubt, I’ll say it again. Fernandez knew he would miss the game at Anfield if he received a yellow card.

“He didn’t want to play there. The score is 0:3, and he is hysterical. Captain? Leader? Others should call him out on this.”

Neville insisted dismissal coach Erik ten Hag would make no difference.

“The first thing they can’t do is fire the coach – they did that. “I was in David Moyes’ team: David Moyes came in, gave me a five-year contract and 10 months later he was sacked,” Neville said.

“I witnessed it first hand – I was a player there, had a great time there and saw what a great man looks like with a great manager – and then when I went to him (Moyes) I was amazed by what I saw – the selection of players ” process and the fact that they were more interested in the commercial side and making money rather than presentation.

“Then Mourinho, Van Gaal, Solskjaer. I remember Ralf Rangnick leaving and saying that the club would not succeed until it sorted itself out. And I think United need to sort themselves out.

Neville says sacking Erik ten Hag won’t change anything significant for United.

“It’s not just the manager, the manager is the last thing they need to deal with. The stadium is old, the training ground is falling apart, the owners want to sell, but only want to sell a little.

“At this moment, getting rid of Ten Hag is fundamentally wrong. He’s trying to change United’s culture.

United’s fixture list doesn’t get any easier: before they turn their full attention to Liverpool, they host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.

United must beat Germany to have a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the tournament.

United are currently sixth in the Premier League, but Sunday’s games could see them fall to eighth.

Last season, when United played Liverpool at Anfield, they lost 7-0.