Liverpool youngster punches Man Utd rival but avoids red card in ugly clash

31 January 2024 , 09:35

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Liverpool youngster punches Man Utd rival but avoids red card in ugly clash

A punch and elbow were both left unpunished in shocking scenes as Liverpool under-18 defender Luca Furnell-Gill twice clashed with Manchester United's Ethan Wheatley.

United managed to prevail in the match 4-3 as Furnell-Gill was first seen spinning to punch Wheatley as he chases Ethan Williams in the build up to the Red Devils' second goal of the night before later pinning the forward and unleashing an elbow. Both occasions went unpunished by the referee with the latter provoking an unhappy response from the 18-year-old Wheatley.

The match, played at Carrington, saw the home side come back from behind twice to maintain a perfect record. United have recorded 14 wins in the u18 Premier League northern division to sit 17 points clear of rivals Manchester City and 18 ahead of Liverpool having scored 46 goals and conceded just 10.

Their Merseyside rival looked to challenge Manchester United's status as Trent Kane-Doherty scored his 10th goal of the season to hand the visitors an early lead that was cancelled out by Williams. However, Kieran Morrison's impressive effort in first half stoppage time ensured Liverpool went into half time with the lead.

It was in the build up to Jayce Fitzgerald's equalising strike that Furnell-Gill could be seen striking Wheatley. The latter blocked the path of the Liverpool defender as he chased Williams. That saw Liverpool's defender react in an unsavoury manner and the forward was left to hold his face as play continued.

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Williams and James Scanlon put United ahead with 75 minutes on the clock, as Michael Laffey's 96th-minute goal proved to only be a consolation. The Reds fell to their sixth defeat of the season.

While United's staff were lift livid on the bench, following their player being struck, supporters were quick to react on X too. Some called for Furnell-Gill to be banned.

One user said: "Actually disgusting Liverpool should be looking into this not right for this to happening." Another noted: "Expect @LFC to take serious action against #lucafurnellgill after this".

Scott Trotter