Derry girl becomes Liverpool's official mascot for cup final

Hannah (right) accompanied Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool and a Carabao Cup mascot onto the pitch before the final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium

A Londonderry schoolgirl has lived out a lifetime dream as she led Liverpool out at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle on Sunday.

Millions of TV viewers watched Hannah O'Carolan, 11, emerge from the tunnel at one of the most famous football stadiums in the world with Reds captain Virgil Van Dijk before Newcastle went on to win the game.

Hannah, a member of Liverpool's Red Squad programme, a fan membership for young supporters, was chosen as the club's only official mascot from thousands of hopefuls.

"I am so excited to be mascot for Liverpool and getting to walk out with Virgil Van Dijk as he is a defender - the same as me," Hannah said before the game.

Hannah got to meet Liverpool legend Mo Salah who signed a football shirt for her

Hannah was bowled over with emotion when the news came through by email at the end of February.

Mum Shauna said they initially thought it was a scam but the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was confirmed when they contacted Anfield.

"To be picked out of so many children across the UK and Hannah's been picked all the way from Derry," she said.

"You can only imagine the excitement, there were a few tears and a few squeals, she was just so excited."

Hannah has been sent a full kit by Liverpool for the game, along with autographs from the first team, other photographs and full mascot badge

Walking out with Virgil Van Dijk

Hannah arrived at Wembley a few hours before the match where she met the first team, got pictures with them before watching them warm up and then walked out with Van Dijk.

"If you think of the millions of fans worldwide, to be picked, someone was looking down on us or really wanted it for Hannah," said Hannah's dad Steve.

"It's stuff you dream of, it's something you can't buy."

Newcastle won the game 2-1 to lift the club's first piece of silverware in 70 years.

Hannah with her mum and dad, Shauna and Steve O'Carolan

Football in the family

The die-hard Reds fan also plays for her local side Maiden City as a defender.

She was inspired by her great uncle Brendan Bradley, who remains the League of Ireland's record goal-scorer with 235 goals in a career that spanned 20 years.

Another inspiration was her auntie Sinead, who played for the Northern Ireland ladies' team.

Ibrahima Konate, Caoimhin Kelleher, Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool line up with their mascots prior to the Carabao Cup Final

Hannah's aunts Sinead and Jillian will fly to London with her ahead of the big match.

"I think Sinead is actually more excited than Hannah at this stage," said Shauna,

Hannah said she was also over the moon about her friends watching her on TV.

"They will see how happy I am," she said.