Bruno Fernandes claimed Manchester United were "fighting for nothing" after the Liverpool defeat despite still having top four ambitions before stating the team are "competing until the end".
The Red Devils were hammered once more by their Merseyside rivals, who ran out 4-0 winners at Anfield. United were unable to compete with the Premier League title chasers and remain three points off Tottenham in fourth having played two games more.
Fernandes and his teammates saw off Norwich City at the weekend whilst both Tottenham and Arsenal were beaten. It reignited hopes of finishing fourth and ensuring they would compete in the Champions League next term, despite a hugely inconsistent season.
However the Portuguese's comments post-match suggested he doesn't believe United are fighting for anything, despite the potential rewards on offer. He told Sky Sports: "Liverpool is fighting for the title, that is the difference. We are not fighting for nothing."
The playmaker then claimed: "We have to look at ourselves, from top to bottom and understand what is going wrong. We are competing until the end. Nobody can put down and think it is over. We have something to fight for."
He went on to apologise to the supporters and added: "I think everyone runs. I think there is effort from everyone. I don't think someone does not give 100%. We have to do it for ourselves, the clubs, the fans and everyone. We have to say things but that is kept in the dressing room. Now it is over we have to think of the next game."
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United now have five games in which to pick up as many points as possible, but it may still not be enough to overhaul their rivals. They still have to face Arsenal, Chelsea, Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace before the season concludes having been knocked out of the FA Cup and the Champions League.
Roy Keane gave a brutal verdict following the Anfield loss, stating: "They lacked quality, they were so far off. You look at the Manchester United fans, they don’t look surprised by the scoreline. They kept going to the end but you felt as though Liverpool could score whenever they wanted when they went forward.
"It’s so sad to see because it is not the club I played for. It is not what Manchester United stood for when I played for them, it is just chalk and cheese. I don’t see a Manchester United team out there fighting or playing with pride."
