Man Utd U18s thump bitter rivals Liverpool 9-1 as fans fear ‘first team will pay for this’

MANCHESTER UNITED laid down a marker ahead of tomorrow’s crunch Premier League clash against Liverpool as the Red Devils’ U18s thumped their bitter rivals 9-1.

And one of United’s young stars even mimicked Wayne Rooney’s iconic boxing celebration from nine years ago after being PUNCHED in the face in the previous meeting.

Man Utd’s U18s beat Liverpool’s kids 9-1 ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game at Old TraffordRex

Erik ten Hag’s senior Red Devils welcome Jurgen Klopp’s table toppers to Old Trafford on Sunday and will look to put a dent in their title ambitions.

United have plenty of work to do after suffering a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat against Chelsea on Thursday.

But United’s kids showed that victory is possible as they thrashed their Liverpool counterparts in Merseyside on Saturday.

James Scanlon opened the scoring in the first minute for United before Ethan Wheatley’s brace made it 3-0.

The hitman had been involved for all the wrong reasons in January’s previous meeting between the sides, which ended 4-3 to United.

He was punched in the face by opponent Luca Furnell-Gill, who managed to escape punishment on the day.

And after netting in Saturday’s match, Wheatley poked fun at the incident by mimicking United legend Rooney’s boxing celebration against Tottenham in 2015.

Wazza famously delivered several upper-cuts to the air before falling flat on his back in a 3-0 win under Louis van Gaal.

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That iconic moment was inspired after Rooney had been KO’d in a kitchen play-fight after a drinking session with Phil Bardsley.

And Wheatley could not resist delivering a similar celebration in an equally passionate manner as United’s kids took full control at Liverpool.

Ethan Williams then scored for United to make it 4-0 before Liverpool pulled one back through Joe Bradshaw.

But United’s youngsters were not about to collapse like the senior side.

Wheatley completed his hat-trick on the hour mark for 5-1, before Scanlon bagged his second of the day.

Sub Gabriele Biancheri made it 7-1 before quickly helping himself to another goal.

And Ashton Missin put the finishing touches on the 9-1 win with a beauty from outside the penalty area.

However, United fans fear Liverpool will look to get their revenge by besting Erik ten Hag’s first team at the Theatre of Dreams tomorrow.

One said: “United’s senior team will pay for this.”

Another declared: “Now the senior team will have to pay for this.”

One noted: “The senior team will pay on Sunday.”

Another boomed: “The future is bright.”

One added: “They’d wash our first team I’m not even joking.”