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The Liverpool Ball Boy, The True Hero Of The Epic Comeback Vs Barcelona

The Liverpool Ball Boy, The True Hero Of The Epic Comeback Vs Barcelona

Oakley Cannonier made himself a hero by giving Trent Alexander-Arnold the ball very quickly and the full back delivered the corner.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Every Liverpool fan knows the commentary, "Corner taken quickly, Origiiiii!" but, despite the input from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Divock Origi, the real hero was Oakley Cannonier.

Oakley might not be a name that everyone remembers instantly but the 14-year-old was the ball boy responsible for getting the ball onto the corner quadrant so quickly.

Alexander-Arnold won a corner with just 12 minutes left of the game, with Liverpool 3-0 against Barcelona up on the night and level on aggregate, and quick as a flash the teenager had a ball in the corner quadrant.

That allowed the full-back, only six years the ball boys senior, to make a quick decision to take the corner whilst Barca were still setting up their defence and Origi slotted home.

The goal completed one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history, which was potentially equalled just a night later bizarrely, and sent Jurgen Klopp's side into the final for the second year in-a-row.

Whilst the players rightly received their plaudits, and Origi reached cult status for his two goals to go along with his winner in the Merseyside derby earlier in the season, young Cannonier was also praised on Twitter.

"Liverpool fans, if you want to buy someone a drink tonight, look out for this ball boy. As the one ball goes out for the corner, he quickly gives another ball to Trent Alexander Arnold, the Barca players were still watching the ball that had gone out. Well done kid!," one said.

"Liverpool ball boy deserves credit for how quick he threw that fucker in," another added.

Even Piers Morgan got in on the praise, saying, "That ball boy may just have won Liverpool the Champions League."

And Graeme Souness got in on the act in the studio, telling 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."

And Morgan may well have been right, lord knows I hate typing that, with Klopp's side ending up winning the semi final and eventually beating Spurs in the final.

Without the ball boys quick thinking, and Alexander-Arnold cottoning on to the situation, there may never have been a sixth Champions League title for Liverpool last season.

Here's to Oakley Cannonier, the hero of Anfield last year.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics:ย Spurs, Liverpool, Football News, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Barcelona, Premier League, Divock Origi, Champions League