Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel mimicked Alexander Isak as he bagged a hat-trick in a resounding 7-0 victory over Liverpool under-18s. The teenage sensation was on fire as he helped the young Red Devils annihilate their Merseyside rivals on their own turf.
Gabriel's most memorable goal came from an awe-inspiring solo run down the right wing, skilfully dodging several Liverpool defenders before blasting the ball into the back of the net. In celebration, the teenager taunted Isak by copying his iconic move, pointing back over his shoulder after scoring.
Isak hasn't flaunted this particular celebration recently, but it gained prominence when he used it after out-jumping Virgil van Dijk to score for Newcastle against Liverpool last season.
After completing his hat-trick, Gabriel had certainly earned the right to taunt his opponents, bringing his season's goal tally to 10.
The victory saw Darren Fletcher's squad climb to third place, putting an end to a disappointing five-match winless streak.
Despite Gabriel's young age, Ruben Amorim is fully aware of the youngster's potential, having seen his skills first hand during senior training sessions.
Speaking last month, the United boss said: "Like everyone, I know he is a really talented guy. We try to pick players for training that have talent.
"Not just for me to see for tomorrow, but for them to feel what it means to be in the first team, the difficulties playing against our defenders, the difficulty and pace of our training.
"If we can use every training we have to show the kids what they need to do to be here, it is important, not just for JJ but for everyone."
Gabriel may well feature in senior matchday squads in the near future given his impressive abilities, although he's not allowed to play in the Premier League at the moment.
That is because league rules state that a player must have turned 15 by August 31 to play this season. Gabriel only celebrated his 15th birthday last month.
However, these regulations don't apply in the FA Cup. The teenager could therefore potentially make his debut in the third round of the competition in January.
