THE quick-thinking ball boy who teed-up Liverpool’s winner against Barcelona is in the Reds’ academy. Leeds-born Oakley Cannonier, 14, delivered the ball speedily for Trent Alexander-Arnold to find Divock Origi from as corner. What a performance by the ball boy for the deciding goal. Should get an assist for the super-quick pass to @trentaa98 ????????????#LIVBAR […]
THE quick-thinking ball boy who teed-up Liverpool’s winner against Barcelona is in the Reds’ academy.
Leeds-born Oakley Cannonier, 14, delivered the ball speedily for Trent Alexander-Arnold to find Divock Origi from as corner.
What a performance by the ball boy for the deciding goal. Should get an assist for the super-quick pass to @trentaa98
#LIVBAR pic.twitter.com/GpHBXBh4yG
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) May 7, 2019
And the Belgian did the rest – netting his second of the night to claim an incredible 4-3 aggregate win.
The Independent claims potential star Oakley was following orders from Liverpool coach Carl Lancaster.
Match analysts had noticed during the first-leg defeat at the Nou Camp that Barcelona’s players moaned and became distracted at set-pieces.
And Liverpool’s ball boys were coached in order to make home advantage count.
Oakley sometimes trains two age groups up and will hope one day to grace the Anfield turf.
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness told Virgin Media: “Watch this, we will circle him. It goes out for a corner.
“They are following the ball – watch the ball boy here.
“He is already on the spot. He puts it down now. He goes to walk away and he realises there is a few dopes gone to sleep.
“They have all turned their back on it. That is criminal, criminal for a professional footballer.”
Alexander-Arnold – himself a former ball boy – revealed he acted on instinct to set-up Origi after pretending to walk away from he ball.
He told BT Sport: “I think it was just instinctive,” Alexander-Arnold told BT Sport. “It was just one of those moments where you see the opportunity and obviously Div was switched on to finish it off.
“It probably came at him a bit fast but he’s a top player, scored two goals for us tonight and I think it’s one of them where everyone will remember this moment.”
