Ex-Liverpool ball boy who assisted Alexander-Arnold in quick corner vs Barcelona scores hat-trick for U19s against Ajax

THE Liverpool ball boy famous for assisting Trent Alexander-Arnold against Barcelona in 2019 has scored a HAT-TRICK in the UEFA Youth League.

Oakley Cannonier made a name for himself aged just 15 in the second leg of the Reds’ Champions League semi-final with Barca three years ago.

With Liverpool having already come from three goals down to level the tie at 3-3 at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s men went in search of a fourth.

And when it went out for a corner, Cannonier quickly threw the ball to Alexander-Arnold and enabled the Reds full-back to fizz it across for Divock Origi to convert – with Barca caught napping.

Klopp praised the ball boy after the match, before Liverpool went on to beat Tottenham 2-0 in the final.

But Cannonier has now begun to make waves as a player.

The Leeds-born 18-year-old netted a hat-trick against Ajax on Tuesday night as Liverpool won 4-0 at their training ground.

And some Reds supporters are keen to see him given a chance in the first team.

One said: “Need to give him some minutes in the cups this year imo. He deserves it.”

While another added: “Why isn’t Klopp and the technical team looking in the direction of Oakley Cannonier.”

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Cannonier joined the Merseyside outfit as an U12 and has flourished in Liverpool’s set-up.

The teenager scored a thoroughly impressive 41 goals in all competitions last season.

And he has already kicked off the new campaign in fine form, with the hat-trick adding to his winner against Napoli last week.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s first team have begun the 2022/23 campaign in disappointing fashion by their own high standards.

Klopp’s men have won just two of their opening six league matches and were battered 4-1 by Napoli in their first Champions League group stage game.

However, they responded with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ajax on Tuesday night – their final match before the international break.

Liverpool were scheduled to face Chelsea on Sunday but the game has been postponed due to a lack of police resources following The Queen’s death.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk