Man Utd youngster taunts Liverpool with Alexander Isak gesture after 7-0 thrashing

 Liverpool's Under-18s were thrashed by Manchester United's Under-18s on Saturday, with one Red Devils starlet rubbing salt in Liverpool wounds by mimicking Alexander Isak's celebration after one of his goals.

Fifteen-year-old JJ Gabriel netted a hat-trick for United in the game at the AXA Training Center, which was eventually won 7-0 by the visiting team.

After Gabriel's first goal, he pulled out the Isak celebration, gesturing over his shoulder with his thumb before sliding on his knees.

Gabriel is one of the most exciting youngsters in United's youth set-up, and showed why he is so highly regarded with goals in the 43rd and 66th minutes, before completing his hat-trick in second-half stoppage time.

Liverpool fans will be hoping that the real Isak can follow Gabriel's lead in front of goal on Sunday, as the Premier League's record signing searches for his first Premier League goal for his new club.

Isak has been hampered by fitness issues since moving to Anfield from Newcastle in September, and is yet to come close to replicating the form he showed for Newcastle last season.

The Sweden international is likely to start against West Ham on Sunday after Hugo Ekitike, who took Isak's place in the team for Wednesday's defeat by PSV Eindhoven, picked up an injury in that game.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said in a press conference on Friday that he doesn't expect Ekitike to be sidelined for long.

"They don't expect that it has to be a big issue [with Ekitike], but the games come fast so let's see for the weekend," Slot said.

Alisson and Florian Wirtz could be available against West Ham after recent absences. Alisson missed the loss to PSV due to illness, while Wirtz has missed the last couple of games with a muscle injury he sustained during the recent international break.

"Ali trained again with the team today, so we hope and expect him to be available at the weekend," Slot said. "Florian will have his final day of rehab tomorrow. So, if that all goes well, he could train with the team on Saturday."

Slot said that Joe Gomez is also in contention to start after recent fitness issues. "He could have been involved [on Wednesday] as well in terms of minutes," said Slot. "But when we are 2-1 or 3-1 down, I tend to make offensive substitutions. And for him to start a game is also definitely a possibility."