Erik ten Hag told why Bruno Fernandes absence for Manchester United vs Liverpool could be a good thing

Danny Murphy believes Manchester United will be better off at Liverpool without their captain and talisman Bruno Fernandes.

United return to the scene of last season's 7-0 drubbing later this afternoon and Erik ten Hag's side are in worse form this time round. The Reds have lost three of their last four matches and reached a nadir during last weekend's 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth.

Fernandes was booked for dissent during that defeat and his fifth yellow card of the campaign has earned him a one-game suspension. The Portuguese midfielder will be unavailable for this afternoon's trip to Anfield but Murphy has suggested it could make Ten Hag's life easier.

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"The United captain's suspension makes the manager's game-plan easier," Murphy wrote in his column for The Daily Mail. "Bruno is a great player but to shoehorn him into the team at Anfield, Erik ten Hag would have needed to play him out wide.

"Without him, United can be more solid with a midfield three of Sofyan Amrabat, Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay, and have pace on the flanks for counter-attacks by Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony.

"If Bruno occupied one of those positions, he wouldn't be quick enough in transition and this way McTominay can get forward to support Rasmus Hojlund."

The absence of Fernandes leaves the armband open for another United player to lead his side out at Anfield. Harry Maguire was the club's previous permanent captain but will also be unavailable due to injury.

Marcus Rashford will return into the squad after missing Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich