Reds ball boy unlikely hero

Liverpool were able to score their fourth and decisive goal against Barcelona thanks to an alert ball boy who was instructed to help restart the game as swiftly as possible during the Champions League semifinal, British media reported on Thursday.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quickly-taken corner while Barcelona’s defenders were still regrouping enabled an unmarked Divock Origi to fire home the goal that allowed Liverpool to advance to the final with a 4-3 aggregate win.

Liverpool analysts had watched how Barcelona players were always distracted when decisions went against them and word was passed down to Carl Lancaster, a coaching mentor at the club’s academy, who asked the ball boys to serve their players quickly.

It was 14-year-old Oakley Cannonier who rolled a spare ball towards Alexander-Arnold when the Liverpool full back won a corner, even as the first ball bounced back into play.