Key points
Manchester United U18s were in action on Saturday against Liverpool, and Darren Fletcher’s team were back at their best in a 7-0 thrashing.
After a four-game winless streak and three games without a goal, Manchester United’s youngsters were clearly saving it all up for the game against Liverpool.
United absolutely thrashed the Merseyside outfit 7-0, with Bendito Mantato opening the scoring.
There was a JJ Gabriel brace, which put the game beyond doubt for United, with both being the 15-year-old at his incredible best in the box, creating the goals himself.
Would Bendito Mantato be the perfect Amad replacement during AFCON? 🇨🇮🏴
Louie Bradbury scored the fourth, and Jim Thwaites added a fifth from the penalty spot.
The scoring was continued by Samuel Lusale, who added the sixth, before Gabriel then scored number seven to secure a mammoth victory for United.
You can follow the game as it happened below!
Liverpool 0-7 (Mantato, Gabriel x3, Bradbury, Thwaites, Lusale) Manchester United
Full time
United have ran out 7-0 winners against Liverpool with JJ Gabriel the star of the show.
[Link]7-0 Manchester United
Gabriel hat-trick! Good goal from inside the box, beating the keeper with power.
Assist: Plunkett
[Link]6-0 Manchester United
Lusale gets the sixth, really good goal as he capitalised on Liverpool’s sloppy defending.
[Link]4-0 Manchester United
Bradbury turns home a loose ball in the six-yard box after coming back from injury.
Assist: Kukonki
[Link]3-0 Manchester United
WHAT A GOAL… Gabriel picked up the ball outside the box, tricked his way past a handful of defenders and smashed it into the roof of the net. Special goal.
Assist: Mantato
[Link]2-0 Manchester United
Gabriel does so well to work a bit of space in the box and finishes coolly.
Assist: McEvoy
[Link]Really strong outing from United
So far so good, and United look really comfortable against Liverpool with Mantato the difference maker as expected.
The 17-year-old is just too good for this level.
[Link]Should be 2-0!
Mantato again looked unstoppable when he carried the ball, and this time, instead of going alone, he teed up Noah Ajayi, who attempted to round the goalkeeper but was denied.
[Link]1-0 Manchester United
A second in two games for Bendito Mantato since returning from the U17 World Cup. Great solo goal which saw the 17-year-old carry the ball a long way before coolly slotting it past the goalkeeper.
Assist: Armer
[Link]Jim Thwaites captains United
It is a strong team for United with Mantato and also Thwaites involved, which could be a really important inclusion, as his leadership has carried the U18s at times this season.
[Link]Confirmed Manchester United XI
Byrne-Hughes, Helafu, Mills, Armer, Kukonki, McEvoy, Thwaites (c), Mantato, JJ Gabriel, Brown, Ajayi
Subs: Watson, McCormack, Plunkett, Lusale, Bradbury.
[Link]JJ Gabriel was in first-team training this week
Despite being ineligible and likely to start today, JJ Gabriel was involved in United’s senior training this week, no doubt an incredible experience.
Gabriel will be hoping to debut next season, but to achieve this, his U18 performances need to get back to the level they were earlier this season.
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