Ethan Wheatley, a star player for Manchester United’s Under-18 team, imitated Wayne Rooney’s iconic celebration after scoring in his team’s dominant victory over Liverpool. Wheatley’s hat-trick contributed to the Young Red Devils’ 9-1 win, with one of his goals featuring a Rooney-esque celebration, reminiscent of the club’s record scorer. Back in 2015, Rooney himself had referenced a viral video of him playfully sparring with Phil Bardsley after scoring against Spurs.
In this recent match, Wheatley’s celebration added to the joyous atmosphere, with Manchester United’s impressive display leaving little room for their opponents to compete. The one-sided encounter saw James Scanlon scoring within the first minute, quickly followed by Wheatley’s double and Ethan Williams virtually ending the contest after 25 minutes. Although Liverpool managed to briefly pull one back through Joe Bradshaw, Wheatley and Scanlon both added to their tally after the break, further solidifying United’s lead.
Their dominance continued as Gabriele Biancheri and Ashton Missin contributed to the team’s resounding victory. This win has strengthened Manchester United’s position at the top of the table, now 13 points ahead of their rivals, Manchester City. Throughout this match, Wheatley’s standout performance and homage to Rooney’s celebration added to the team’s success, showcasing the promising future of Manchester United’s youth squad.