Liverpool staff reportedly believe they have a 17-year-old like Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool staff compare 17-year-old Oakley Cannonier to Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool staff feel Oakley Cannonier could be like Philippe Coutinho, according to reports. The 17-year-old has already made a name for himself.

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This comes from the Athletic. They ran a piece on Oakley Cannonier and his career so far. It’s been an unusual path for the 17-year-old.

Cannonier actually made a name for himself before turning 16. He did it in a Champions League game, in fact, despite not actually playing.

The teenager was the ballboy who threw the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold before that quickly-taken corner against Barcelona in 2019. It was enough for Cannonier to find some fame as he trended on Twitter and had interview requests.

Now, though, Cannonier is a professional on Liverpool’s books. He signed his first contract in early July, tying him to the club for the next few years.

And he’s starting to make waves on the pitch now. A hat-trick against Chester in pre-season for the Under 18s caught the eye but Liverpool staff apparently love what they’re seeing in training, too.

Liverpool rate Cannonier

The Athletic writes that “his slight frame, low centre of gravity, nifty feet and deadly finish have drawn comparisons to Philippe Coutinho from club staff”.

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That’s a big comparison, given how good Coutinho was at Liverpool. Those staff saw the Brazilian at his brilliant best and not many have matched his ability over the years.

Perhaps Liverpool have yet another diamond in their ranks here, then. There are already the likes of Harvey Elliott, Kaide Gordon and Mateusz Musialowski coming through – will we be adding Cannonier to the list soon?

An injury-plagued 2020/21 did slow the teenager down but pre-season suggests he’s ready to get back on track. And if he does, the youngster may be one to watch.

It’s not often you can say that a 17-year-old has made his mark before even playing a game but it seems Liverpool might get even more out of Cannonier.

A name worth remembering for every Red.