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Liverpool FC Supporters Club

Talented Ball Boy Who Assisted Trent’s Corner Against Barcelona Making Strides Four Years Later

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The extraordinary night at Anfield, which witnessed one of the most unforgettable moments in Champions League history, continues to shape the career of a certain ball boy, as he establishes himself in the football world four years later.

On May 7, 2019, Liverpool achieved the seemingly impossible, overturning a three-goal deficit against a formidable Barcelona side in an exhilarating European clash. The atmosphere at Anfield crackled with anticipation as Divock Origi (2) and Gini Wijnaldum (2) netted crucial goals, propelling the Reds to the Champions League final.

In that momentous match, it was Origi who sealed the victory with the fourth and final goal, aided by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick-thinking corner. However, just seconds before Origi’s decisive strike, a young talent named Oakley Cannonier played an essential role by swiftly providing another ball to Alexander-Arnold.

Witness the footage below capturing the moment of Cannonier’s sharp instincts as he promptly retrieved the ball from the sidelines, enabling Alexander-Arnold to execute his pinpoint assist.

Since that historic night at Anfield, the highly-rated Cannonier has continued to impress on the pitch. Shortly after the Barcelona encounter, he scored his first goal for Liverpool U18s in a pre-season match against Burton Albion. Two years later, Cannonier earned a professional contract with the Premier League club, solidifying his promising trajectory.

Having joined Liverpool’s ranks as an U12 player, transitioning from his hometown team Leeds, Cannonier has amassed an impressive tally of over 40 goals for Liverpool U18s in the previous season. He carried this form into the early stages of the current campaign, finding the net seven times in four UEFA Youth League fixtures.

Unfortunately, the young talent has faced setbacks due to injuries, resulting in him missing a significant portion of the season. Nevertheless, Cannonier has already earned several caps at the international level, representing England’s U15, U16, U18, and U19 teams. Notably, he has also trained with Liverpool’s first team, garnering recognition from manager Jurgen Klopp himself.

Recalling the training session, Cannonier shared his encounter with Klopp, stating, “I trained with the first team a few weeks ago, and the boss came up to me and he was like, ‘I just need to thank you’ for what I did.”

Reflecting on his pivotal involvement in Origi’s match-winning goal, Cannonier elaborated, “Liverpool were obviously getting beat, so the assistant manager told our coach Carl that the ball needs to be in rapid for the intensity of the game and stuff because we were 3-0 down. Everything had to be quick, and you had to get the ball back on the pitch.”

The impact of Cannonier’s contribution was palpable, with Liverpool fans at his school hailing him as the hero who secured their victory. He added, “It still is a bit mad. People getting in touch on social media calling me a Liverpool legend.”

As Cannonier’s career unfolds, the unforgettable role he played as a ball boy that fateful night continues to shape his path towards a promising future in football.