‘CRITICISM IS PART OF LIFE AT MANU’—BRUNO

Players must accept criticism as readily as praise at Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes (pictured) said after the Portuguese midfielder rescued his side with two goals in a 4-2 home Premier League victory over Sheffield United.

Fernandes made it 2-2 from the penalty spot in the 61st minute then put United ahead with a long-range strike 20 minutes later after the hosts had fallen behind twice against the Premier League’s bottom team.

United had come in for heavy criticism following Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City where they squandered a 3-0 lead before going through via a penalty shoot-out.

Fernandes told reporters that the intense demands of playing at a club like United meant winning was the only thing that mattered.

“You can be in a run of games where you win nine in a row, and when you lose one you know you’ll be criticised,” he added.

“Being at United demands winning every game, that’s part of our job. If there is anyone in the dressing room still not used to that, they will get used to it.

“Being a Manchester United player demands being ready to receive as much criticism as praise. We receive praise when we do good things so we can’t be annoyed by the criticism.”

United, who had failed to win their last four league matches, moved up to sixth with Wednesday’s win. They next host Burnley today.

Meanwhile, Jürgen Klopp conceded Liverpool need a collapse from Arsenal and Manchester City to win the Premier League after a shock 2-0 defeat at Everton on Wednesday.

Klopp, who is said to have Arne Slot from Feyenoord as possible successor, tasted defeat in front of a crowd in the Merseyside derby for the first time to leave the Reds’ title hopes hanging by a thread.

“You can read the table. We need a crisis at City and Arsenal and we need to win football games,” said Klopp, who is nearing the end of his tenure at Anfield.

The German had enjoyed a dominant record over Everton with only one previous defeat in 18 games, but his final taste of the Merseyside derby was a bitter one.

“It was not the most inspired performance,” added Klopp.

A run of four wins in nine games has seen Klopp’s men crash out of the Europa League and FA Cup as well as falling off the pace at the top of the Premier League. * See Page 11 for an analysis of Liverpool's problems