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Rob dawsonCorresponding
Bruno Fernandes responded to Jurgen Klopp’s suggestion that Manchester United will get too many penalties, saying he doesn’t care what people think.
Klopp has hinted his Liverpool side are less likely to get penalty decisions than United.
Ahead of the crucial top-of-the-table clash between the two teams at Anfield on Sunday, Fernandes, who has scored 15 penalties since moving to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon a year ago, said Klopp’s comments were a tactic to influence the referees he had seen before. during his stay in Portugal.
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“I don’t care, honestly,” Fernandes said.
“You always see what people say but I don’t care. I’m not focused on what they say. I played in Portugal and when you play for Sporting, Benfica and Porto always talk like that. of things – sometimes to put pressure on the referee, sometimes just to make noise in the press. But, for me, the main thing is when you have a penalty, if I’m going to take the ball to the penalty spot, I have to do my job. “
United have received six league penalties this season, one more than Liverpool and four less than Leicester City’s 10.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has said Klopp’s focus on United’s penalties was intended to put pressure on Sunday referee Paul Tierney.
Fernandes said there was a simple explanation for the number of kicks they get.
“We have very fast players up front,” he added. “Anthony [Martial] is one of the best one-on-one players in the box, Marcus [Rashford] is another who is quick and has quick feet who can take the ball off the defender at any time.
“It’s normal that sometimes because of that [they will be tripped] and will fall and they will earn penalties. It is what it is. People can talk and say whatever they want. But, for me and for the team, the main point is to keep doing the right things and when we get a penalty it is enough to score. “
United will start at Anfield three points clear at the top following their 1-0 win over Burnley on Tuesday.
It is the first time since 2013 that they have entered the title race so late in the season.
Liverpool rose to 19 titles when they were crowned champions last season and Fernandes has said he would not like to see them retain the trophy.
“You don’t want your rivals to be at the same level as you, or with the same number of trophies as you,” he added.
“So it’s clear to everyone here at the club and in the dressing room, everyone knows what this means for the fans. But the main thing for us is to know what each game means to us. Each game has to mean the same, we have to go into every game with the same mentality we have for Liverpool.
“It would be a lot more fun with 21 titles and Liverpool still out of 19, of course, but the main point for us is to keep going and doing our best every game.”
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