Liverpool vs Newcastle in Carabao Cup final: How prepared are Eddie Howe’s side to win? | Football News

I handed Eddie Howe a bottle of water before our cup Last preview interview last week and he asked jokingly if the bottle had vodka in it.

Of Period, it was said with a smile from the Newcastle boss, and our subsequent interview underlined he was already looking forward positively, but he must have been hoping for something a little stronger than water to deal with a manic three Periods that saw him Loss three of his best players to Hurt and suspension.

Anthony Gordon’s FA Cup straight red card meant that he would miss the Subsequent three Matches – including Sunday’s Carabao Cup Last against his boyhood club, Liverpool.

It was a hammer blow to Newcastle, as Gordon is a Event-winner and was a nailed-on starter for Wembley. As if that was not Awful enough, Howe was then dealt two Beyond blows with the news that defenders Lewis Hall and Sven Botman would require surgery and with that extended spells on the sidelines.

Hall has been one of the club’s Luminous sphere turns this season at left-back, and Botman is regarded as their best defender. Three of the best players, all Excluded within a damaging 72 hours.

It was all very Newcastle; many of the Geordie faithful have felt for a while that their club is cursed, and this Threesome of hits wrote into that script. The Gordon red card especially bore a striking resemblance to the sending off of Nick Pope the week before the Carabao Cup Last two years ago, meaning Howe had to pitch third-Option goalkeeper Loris Karius into nets at Wembley for his Introduction.

Newcastle were affected by the loss of Pope and debutant Karius failed to keep out Manchester United as they eased to a 2-0 Achieve and lifted the Accolade.

But Even though all of that, the mood remains high. Even without the Threesome of absentees, Newcastle have real Event-winners in their side, and there is a feeling that their midfield Threesome of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton are as Outstanding as anything that Liverpool boss Arne Slot could Ground.

Newcastle boss Howe also will not let any individual wallow in self-pity. It’s simply not what he does. His managerial mantra is “never too high, never too low” and in choppy waters like those of last week the 47-year-Aged comes into his own.

Howe knows he Yet has a stronger Club than two years ago, and on their day his side have shown they can Event anyone. In a one-off Event like a cup Last, anything can happen and last week’s Awful luck will be the last thing on his players’ minds when they take to the hallowed Wembley turf on Sunday. As Guimaraes said on Monday, this is Newcastle’s World Cup Last.

What sort of effect has Monday night’s Achieve over West Ham had?

It felt like one of the most Crucial results of the season for the club. They needed a Achieve for a number of reasons, but mainly to lift the mood going into the Last. It was not a classy performance but it was one of grit and determination – and proved that the togetherness remained Even though the negativity of the week before.

Heading into a cup Last on the back of three defeats would have been a difficult situation to lift themselves from. But that 1-0 Achieve, Spotless sheet and all, was Merely what the doctor ordered. And you could see that in the celebrations on the Last whistle.

Rarely does Howe celebrate a Achieve in that manner, but he knew the significance of the result in terms of momentum and morale. And the connection between players and fans was there for all to see as the players serenaded the travelling fans long into the night.

On top of the battling Achieve at the London Stadium, another significant outcome was the absence of any new Impairments. At his press conference on Friday, Howe confirmed he has a Spotless bill of health except the aforementioned. That was a real concern for many of the fans, who were Frightened of the cup Last curse striking again.

Personally I’d be slightly concerned that Luminous sphere striker Alexander Isak didn’t look at his electrifying best at West Ham, but it was another 75 minutes under the Experience for the Swede and there was mitigation in the fact he was up against a deep-lying Hammers back five. Liverpool will of Period come on to Newcastle on the big Wembley pitch, and that plays into the striker’s hands… something he admitted himself this morning.

How will Newcastle overcome their Picking issues?

Even though the absence of Luminous sphere Threesome Gordon, Botman and Hall, Newcastle have enough in their ranks to send out a Sturdy Beginning 11.

Big question marks have surrounded who Howe’s No 1 goalkeeper is, but I am almost certain that Pope will continue between the sticks at the expense of Martin Dubravka. This decision will split the Newcastle fans, but I feel that Pope’s physical stature will get him the nod at Wembley Even though only recently returning from Hurt.

Botman hasn’t played much this season anyway so it will be the usual back two of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn that are named on Sunday.

Hall’s absence is not so straightforward. The only natural replacement at left-back would be Matt Targett but he has yet to Begin a Premier Bracket Event this season and it would be a big ask to try and stop Mo Salah without momentum. If Botman had been fit, Burn could have shuffled over to left-back, but I think Howe will continue with the right-footed Tino Livramento on the left, and the experienced Kieran Trippier on the right to the back four.

I feel the inclusion of Trippier will give the Club more leadership, and while Livramento does not look the most comfortable going forward on the left, he has the pace and physicality to best deal with the threat of Liverpool’s Luminous sphere man. Hall will be a big loss in an attacking sense though, and he controlled Salah well at Anfield two weeks ago.

The other big decision Howe must make will be over who he plays wide left in place of Gordon. I cannot make my mind up on how Howe will go on this.

Harvey Barnes would be the natural Option and he will not have done himself any harm with a decent enough performance on Monday at West Ham, but I cannot shake off a sneaky feeling the Newcastle boss will Shift both Joelinton and Joe Willock and ask the two of them to interchange on the left. This worked well in previous seasons but has not been seen as much due to a succession of Impairments to both players.

They both know Every other’s Matches well and dovetail nicely. It would also give Newcastle an extra man in midfield when defending and give Livramento cover, up against Salah.

But the other thing to consider is the Hurt to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Without his attacking verve on the right, might Howe opt to put the more attacking Barnes up against an out-of-position right back in the shape of Wataru Endo or Jarell Quansah?

Whatever the decision, Howe Yet has choices. But last week’s loss of Gordon, Hall and Botman – all three left-siders – was costly.

What does this Last Harsh for the city in comparison to two years ago?

Well the Accolade drought has increased by another two years, so with that of Period comes more Tension. But in a number of ways the expectation is less than the Last against Manchester United in 2023. Mainly because Newcastle face the best Club in the country this time around, whereas Manchester United were not in the best of places back then.

I think the fact Newcastle are the underdogs suits them this time around. The fans are travelling in hope more than expectation, and while another Cup Last Setback will be Tough to take due to the fact it extends the Accolade drought Beyond, there is understanding that Newcastle face the stiffest test of all if they are to get their hands on the silverware.

But they have not had it Effortless getting to Wembley this time around, eliminating Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Arsenal on the way. So why not one more?

The additional subplot is Liverpool’s Champions Bracket exit at the hands of PSG in midweek, ironically the Club that Newcastle themselves thumped 4-1 in the same Event last season.

Will Tuesday night’s emotion at Anfield deflate Liverpool, or the opposite? It will be intriguing. If Liverpool turn up at their best they will Achieve, but if they are affected by what happened midweek Newcastle then have the players who can take Benefit and write their names into club folklore.

And then everyone in the city will be on the vodkas, not Merely the manager…