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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jacob Murtagh

Liverpool hero ballboy named - as instructions from coaches revealed

The ballboy who played a key part in Liverpool's winning goal has been revealed as a member of the club's academy.

Fourteen-year-old Oakley Cannonier from Leeds delivered a new ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold when the Reds were awarded a corner with the tie locked at three each.

The Liverpool defender caught the Barcelona defence napping when his quick set-piece allowed Divock Origi to fire the winning goal.

It is claimed Oakley, who sometimes trains two age groups up, was following orders from Liverpool coach Carl Lancaster.

He instructed the ballboys to return the ball to Klopp's troops as quickly as possible.

The advice stuck as Oakley fed Alexander-Arnold in lightning-quick time to tee-up Origi for the 76th-minute winner.

It has emerged that the England international also served as a ballboy during his time in the academy, helping out in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea back in April 2014.

Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Graeme Souness spotted the alertness of the ballboy as he acted as a pundit on Virgin Media Sport.

He said: "Watch this, we will circle him. It goes out for a corner.

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The ballboy got the match ball back over to Alexander-Arnold in rapid time (BT Sport)
The ballboy's quick reactions have been lauded by Liverpool fans (BT Sport)

They are following the ball; watch the ballboy 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."

Souness later claimed that the ballboy should be handed a season ticket and a route to the Champions League final for his actions.

Jamie Carragher makes Anfield claim after Liverpool's remarkable win over Barcelona

The ballboy then collected the original ball just before the decisive corner was taken (BT Sport)

Alexander-Arnold said the quickly-taken corner that led to Liverpool's decisive fourth goal was pure instinct.

The 20-year-old right back had already helped set up Liverpool's second goal with a pass for Georginio Wijnaldum when, with the aggregate score tied at 3-3, the ball went out behind the Barcelona goal in the 79th minute.

Jurgen Klopp reveals real motivation behind Liverpool's epic comeback against Barcelona

Origi celebrates scoring the decisive fourth goal of the game for Liverpool (REUTERS)
Alexander-Arnold reacts in disbelief at the full-time whistle (PA)

Alexander-Arnold, seeing the Spanish club's defenders still getting organised, feigned to walk away from the corner before racing back to whip the ball to the unmarked Origi, who clipped it past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

"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."

  • You can buy your souvenir copy of the Mirror on Merseyside today, recording the amazing victory.
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