Kobbie Mainoo sends one-word message as Manchester United U18s smash Liverpool 9-1

Manchester United's Under-18s gave their senior counterparts some extra pre-match motivation by hammering Liverpool Under-18s 9-1 on Saturday.

Whilst all eyes will be fixed on Old Trafford this afternoon, where Erik ten Hag's side welcome Jurgen Klopp's in a fixture that will have a major say on both the Premier League title race and battle for European qualification, United's youngsters have taken the spotlight for their achievements.

Adam Lawrence's side have steamrolled the competition in this campaign's U18 Premier League North competition, and did not pull their punches when visiting their rivals in Kirkby. Within 25 minutes they had surged into a 4-0 lead, courtesy of James Scanlon, Ethan Williams and a brace from Ethan Wheatley.

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Liverpool pulled one back on 32 minutes, though that proved to be an inconsequential consolation as United ruthlessly picked apart the hosts for the remainder. A the restart, a 12-minute flurry of goals - including Wheatley's third - prevented any hope of a fight back, before adding a final two goals in the dying minutes.

The result takes Lawrence's side 13 points clear at the top of their youth league, and gained the attention of Kobbie Mainoo. 18 years of age himself, the midfielder plays beyond his years for Ten Hag's first-team having risen from the club's Under-18s to the Under-21s in January 2023.

The recent England debutant was spotted in the comment section of hat-trick hero Wheatley's Instagram post. The Under-18s star had posted including the caption: "Enjoyed that