Hero ball boy from famous Barca comeback signs pro Liverpool deal

Oakley Cannonier, the ball boy who shot to fame for his small part in Liverpool’s famous 4-0 Champions League win over Barcelona, has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The 17-year-old striker, who joined as an under-12 from Leeds, was praised for his quick thinking in tossing a ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold which allowed the defender to catch the visitors unawares with a corner swept in by Divock Origi as Jurgen Klopp’s side overturned a 3-0 deficit from the first leg of their semi-final in 2019.

Cannonier, who has represented England at youth level, had his breakthrough year with the under-18s last season and scored the last goal in a Liverpool game played at the club’s former Melwood training ground in November’s victory over Leeds.

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Congratulations, Oakley! ✍️🔴

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 7, 2021

Meanwhile, it was confirmed late last week that Mohamed Salah will not be going to the Olympics after Liverpool prevented him from being selected in Egypt’s squad for Tokyo.

National team boss Hossam El Badry had wanted the 29-year-old as one of his overage players but, with clubs under no obligation to release players, the Reds put a block on Salah’s hopes.

The Olympics run from July 22 until August 7, a week before the start of the Premier League campaign, and with Salah set to miss matches in January because of the African Nations Cup Liverpool did not view it as being in their best interests to allow Salah to attend.

Despite trying to exert some pressure El Badry has admitted defeat and omitted Salah from the squad he named on Friday.

In another boost to Klopp’s plans Virgil Van Dijk has declared himself “pre-season ready” in a post on Twitter too.

The Holland captain missed virtually all last season after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee in October’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.