Liverpool ballboy who ‘assisted' Trent Alexander-Arnold corner vs Barcelona scores his first goal for U18s

Cannonier (right), whose quick-thinking helped Alexander-Arnold assist Origi
BT Sport (https://twitter.com/btsportfootball)
David Lynch10 July 2019

An unsung hero of Liverpool's unforgettable Champions League victory over Barcelona enjoyed a landmark moment in his fledgling career on Wednesday.

Oakley Cannonier's name hit the headlines in the aftermath of that come-from-behind semi-final win at Anfield thanks to his role in the Reds' all-important fourth goal.

Serving as a ballboy at the Kop end of the ground, Cannonier's quick thinking allowed Trent Alexander-Arnold to catch Barca unawares from a corner in the dying moments of the match.

Unlike the visitors' defence, Divock Origi was alive to the ploy, and grabbed his second of the match to send the hosts through to the final thanks in no small part to the academy prospect on the sidelines.

Now, Cannonier has taken a huge step in his own footballing story after featuring in a friendly meeting with Burton Albion at the academy on Wednesday afternoon.

The teenager scored his first U18s goal as Barry Lewtas' men kickstarted their pre-season with a 4-0 win, joining Jake Cain (2) and Niall Brookwell on the scoresheet.

Cannonier's role in that famous win over Barca even caught the eye of former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who hailed him as a 'very intelligent' boy in his role as a pundit for RT.

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"You want a quick throw in, the ballboys need to know you want a quick throw in. The ball must arrive fast. I had a club where the club never understood how important the ballboys are," the Portuguese said.

"Even if you are winning, that speed is important. The goal kicks, the tempo of the game, the ballboys, in a good structure, can also play a part

"People don't know that a real football club, every detail is very, very important. In this game, the kid, very intelligent, very bright. I don't know if he's an academy player or not, but the kid knew what he was going to do."

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