Liverpool Football Club's dismal week has plumbed new depths after their Under-18 side was handed a crushing 7-0 defeat by arch-rivals Manchester United on Saturday.
This humbling loss at the youth level compounds a torrid period for the Merseyside club, coming just days after the senior team's 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest and a 4-1 Champions League defeat by PSV Eindhoven.
A Week of Woes for The Reds
The results have heaped significant pressure on first-team manager Arne Slot, with the club enduring nine defeats in their last twelve matches across all competitions.
While the spotlight has been on the senior squad, another heavy defeat was unfolding for Liverpool's academy. The Under-18 Premier League fixture at home turned into a nightmare as Manchester United's young talents ran riot.
Match Breakdown: United's Dominant Display
The visitors set the tone early, with Bendito Mantato opening the scoring after just seven minutes. Liverpool managed to hold on until the brink of half-time, but their resistance was broken by United's highly-rated 15-year-old talent, JJ Gabriel, who doubled the advantage.
Gabriel's celebration, which involved pointing back over his shoulder towards the corner flag, appeared to mimic the signature move of Liverpool's star striker Alexander Isak. Ironically, Isak has only scored once for Liverpool since his British record £125 million move from Newcastle, a stark contrast to the youth team's prolific opponent.
After the break, Liverpool completely collapsed. JJ Gabriel added his second goal in the 66th minute, effectively killing the contest. The floodgates then opened, with further goals from Louie Bradbury, Jim Thwaites, and Sam Lusale.
The dominant victory was sealed in stoppage time when Gabriel completed his hat-trick, capping a remarkable individual performance and rounding off a devastating 7-0 scoreline for the young Red Devils.
Context and Consequences
The result propelled Manchester United up to second place in the Under-18 Premier League table. For Liverpool, the defeat is part of a worrying trend at the youth level, having recently suffered heavy losses including a 6-3 defeat to Nottingham Forest, a 4-0 loss to Real Madrid, and a 5-3 defeat to Sunderland.
It is worth noting that Liverpool's Under-18 side was missing several key players who had featured in a 1-0 UEFA Youth League victory over PSV Eindhoven just days earlier. However, the manner of the 7-0 capitulation against their historic rivals will raise serious questions and add to the growing sense of crisis enveloping the club from top to bottom.
