Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s ever-present player, the catalyst for the team’s greatest performances, but more often than not the target when things go wrong. And this season, things have been going wrong rather a lot.
The Portuguese can always be relied upon wherever and whenever his team needs him, sometimes playing through severe pain or in an unfamiliar position when needs must.
But one thing United’s captain cannot do is control his emotions and that is why he will be absent from Sunday’s daunting trip to Liverpool, which he misses through suspension after getting a careless fifth yellow card of the season for dissent.
Fernandes’ absence at Anfield is a massive blow to a team who are already down to the bare bones in terms of injuries, and devoid of confidence after enduring their worst start to a season in 50 years.
But it will also be fascinating to see how they fare on enemy territory without their usual talisman. Are they set for another drubbing, or could they actually benefit from his absence?