Bruno Fernandes confirms penalty plan for Liverpool match - 'I wouldn't do that'

Bruno Fernandes is one assist away from equalling the all-time record for a single Premier League season as Manchester United prepare to face Liverpool on Sunday

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has rubbished rumours that he could pass the ball for one of his teammates to score a penalty as he chases the single-season assist record. The midfielder has 19 Premier League assists to his name this term and is now just one away from the joint-record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne before Sunday's game against Liverpool.

The 31-year-old has been a talismanic figure for Michael Carrick's side as they look to secure a place in next season's Champions League. The Portugal international registered his most recent assist during Monday's 2-1 win over Brentford at Old Trafford.

United now need just a single point to mathematically qualify for Europe's elite competition for the first time in three years. It means Carrick's men can secure Champions League football this weekend against their fierce rivals from Merseyside.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don't miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Fans in M16 will be hoping to see Fernandes play a key role with an assist to edge closer to the Premier League's single-season record in that statistic. Now, the former Sporting star has promised he will not try to replicate the famous move between Robert Pires and Henry in 2005.

The incident against Manchester City saw an attempt by Pires to pass a penalty kick, but a mis-kick led referee Mike Riley to award City a free-kick.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE!Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I'm too afraid of missing, so I will take my penalty as normal as always.

"Obviously, it's something that I think about [the assist record] because we're talking about Kevin and Thierry. They were two of the best players that the Premier League has seen in a long, long time.

"Obviously, having the chance to be up there with their names for this category, let's not talk about the rest they have done in the Premier League, for this category it's very good, and I'm proud of that."

Fernandes has also spoken about his decision to stay at United last summer - admitting it was based on the unfinished business he had at the club. The Reds had just lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final after finishing 15th in the top-flight.

He added: "The club was in a tough moment because we just lost a European final, [and] we finished the lowest in the Premier League United has ever done.

"Six years ago, the club trusted me to come here and believed I could help the club. At the time, my decision was made by [the fact that] I haven't fulfilled my dreams here.

"I haven't achieved everything I wanted. I've never hidden that I want to win the Premier League and the Champions League with the club. I might do it, I might not. But until I get the chance or until I'm here to do that, I'm going to try.

"Is it going to be difficult? Yes. You have top clubs in the league that have been winning the league for so many years and being consistently there and we're not."

Click here to read article