Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed his admiration for Bruno Fernandes while explaining where Sunday's game between the Reds and Manchester United will be won and lost.
"These games are very complicated," Benitez told The Times.
"I have the feeling that Liverpool can do well, but I have to be honest, and Manchester United have been doing well in recent games.
"It will be 50-50, or 60-40 with my heart.
"If you have problems in defence you have to try to protect that area by staying more compact but, at the same time, your style is to press and push the other team. You have to take risks.
"The problem with Manchester United is they have some pace up front and you have to be sure not to let them run easily behind your defenders."
Another problem that Liverpool will need to solve is attacking midfielder Fernandes, who has posted 22 goal contributions in 17 Premier League appearances so far this season.
The Portuguese was a player Jurgen Klopp praised in his press conference on Friday, with Fernandes' statistics speaking for themselves when it comes to the threat he will pose the Reds' backline.
And Benitez has revealed how he once tried to sign the ex- Sporting Lisbon man.
"Fernandes was a player we were following at Newcastle United," Benitez added.
"He was at Sporting Lisbon and he had an issue with his club. ‘There was a chance he could leave on a free.
"We were progressing but the problem was that the matter would go to court and that would complicate it. The club didn’t want that.
"He has been crucial for United. He changed everything with the way he is playing - assists and goals. He has ‘personality’.
"He tries to look for the right passes. In recent games, I saw him going to press with determination and intensity."
Liverpool were also linked with Fernandes before he made a £47m move to Old Trafford.
"He's an outstanding player," Klopp said ahead of Liverpool's top-of-the-table clash with United at Anfield on Sunday.
"Before he joined United we played against Sporting in the USA on the tour and in that game already, you could just see 'wow'.
"Obviously, everybody knew him but in the first game my team played against him you could really see he was the difference maker."
