On October 26, 2026, a Sky Sports report highlighted Carragher's skepticism about Carrick's choice not to substitute Fernandes during the match at Old Trafford. This decision came just four days after Fernandes criticized the manager's tactical approach following Manchester United's 4-1 Champions League loss to Como, leading to his exclusion from the starting lineup.

Carrick stood by his selection, claiming it was purely based on footballing reasons. Nonetheless, Carragher voiced skepticism, indicating that the manager had evidently chosen not to play Fernandes at all.

During his commentary on Sky Sports, Carragher stated, "I believe he never intended to bring him on. It was a deliberate choice to keep him on the bench to essentially embarrass him."

At 32 years old, Fernandes found himself on Manchester United's bench for only the sixth time in the Premier League since joining in January 2020, as per Opta's data. Although he warmed up during the match, he remained unused while United struggled against Bournemouth.

Carrick made a number of substitutions to enhance his team's performance, yet Fernandes was not included. Matheus Cunha replaced Youri Tielemans at halftime, while Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee, and Shea Lacey were also brought on as United sought to regain their footing.

Bournemouth took control in the 38th minute when Rayan Vitor scored following a free-kick from Justin Kluivert. The visitors then doubled their lead after Leny Yoro lost possession to Adrien Truffert, which allowed Marcus Tavernier to find the net.

Evanilson later secured Bournemouth's third goal in the 71st minute, leading to a decisive win over Manchester United.

Fernandes’ ongoing absence sparked considerable discussion after the match, especially in light of his earlier criticisms of Carrick's tactics. Carragher’s remarks have prompted inquiries into whether the manager’s decisions were solely tactical or if personal tensions influenced his choice to leave the seasoned midfielder on the sidelines.