Man Utd Under-18s beat Liverpool 9-1 ahead of Premier League showdown

Manchester United's Under-18s beat their Liverpool counterparts 9-1 in an emphatic preview to Sunday's senior showdown.

Erik ten Hag's United will play host on Sunday to a Liverpool side that features a number of the young talents that are normally available for the Reds Under-18s, who have also lost a lot of key players to their Under-21s as well.

That upheaval in the Liverpool squad played right into United's hands as midfielder James Scanlon scored inside the opening minute, after which the tone of the game was firmly set.

Striker Ethan Wheatley netted twice before Liverpool lost midfielder Kyle Kelly to injury only 17 minutes in, and Ethan Williams netted a fourth for United seven minutes later as the winds of Storm Kathleen roared around Liverpool's Kirkby Academy.

Joe Bradshaw's delightful finish before the half-time whistle temporarily turned the tide and Liverpool looked like they could go on to grab another, but Wheatley bagged his hat-trick shortly before the hour mark which completely killed off the game.

There would be one more goal for Scanlon soon after, before Gabriele Biancheri netted twice and Ashton Missin sealed the momentous win in the dying embers.

It was a tough performance for Liverpool, who were without star players Amara Nallo, Trey Nyoni, Trent Kone-Doherty, Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns, all of whom have been called up to play at higher levels this weekend.

While the nature of the result came as a surprise, United were the favourites heading into the game. They currently sit top of the Under-18 Premier League North, 13 points clear of second-placed Manchester City having played two games more.

Liverpool sit fourth in the division, 25 points adrift of the leaders.

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