U18s: Liverpool 0 United 7

Goals from Bendito Mantato, Gabriel (three), Louie Bradbury, Jim Thwaites and Sam Lusale ensured a well-deserved victory for our young Reds.

Dominating for large portions of the encounter, Darren Fletcher's side climbed back up the table into second place following the victory on Merseyside.

FIRST HALF

Mantato set the tone with the game only minutes old, pressing from the front to earn United an early corner.

Not at all resting on his laurels, it was Bendito who opened the scoring shortly after, with defender Albert Mills playing a wonderful ball through to find him.

Taking it within his stride before charging forward, the young Red jinked inside before tucking home his effort past Liverpool goalkeeper Kornel Miscuir.

Noah Ajayi was the next to go close after 15 minutes played, working a solid opportunity, albeit soon foiled by the Merseysiders' shot-stopper.

Liverpool man Finn Inglethorpe weaved his way into the area before shooting into the side-netting, as the hosts looked to get back into the game.

La'more Lee Forrester then lashed an effort at the United goal as the rain came down, with Cameron Byrne-Hughes called into action for the first time.

But Gabriel's magic soon doubled our advantage, with the young forward almost resembling a dancer as he twisted and turned in the box, before delivering a vital finish to make it 2-0.

He could have had another before the first 45 minutes were over, too, but his cross-cum-shot narrowly evaded both Nathaniel-Junior Brown and the far post.

SECOND HALF

Jay McEvoy's header went close as our advances in the second half continued, with Thwaites' deliveries causing all kinds of trouble for Liverpool.

Brown found himself a yard of space before blasting over the bar as our unrelenting pressure continued, with our attacking intent soon paying dividends.

Gabriel again was the instigator, riding two challenges inside the penalty area, before keeping his nerve to smash home into the roof of the net for 3-0.

Thwaites' latest set-piece needed the attention of Misciur as we reached the final twenty minutes, but his resulting corner would turn into a fruitful one.

After a scurry in the box, Bradbury was on hand to poke home our fourth goal of the game from the in-swinging deliver, with there still plenty of time for lots more drama.

Lusale was then brought down as the referee had no choice but to point to the spot on 83 minutes.

Thwaites took responsibility and despite losing his footing, got just about enough on it to notch a fifth goal for Fletcher's men.

Lusale got his reward and found himself in a similar situation before rounding the Liverpool no.1 for another late goal, as our advantage grew once more.

And there was still enough time for Gabriel to complete his hat-trick as well-worked move resulted in him smashing home to make it 7-0 to the Reds.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Byrne-Hughes; Kukonki, Mills, Armer, Helafu; Thwaites, McEvoy (Plunkett, 64); Mantato (Lusale, 68), Gabriel, Brown (Bradbury, 64); Ajayi (McCormack, 57).

Subs not used: Watson.

Booked: Bradbury.

Goals: Gabriel 43, 66, 90+2, Mantato 7, Bradbury 71, Thwaites 84, Lusale 90.