The first silverware of the English club season will be decided on Sunday as Liverpool and Newcastle face off inthe Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
Both are among the biggest and most well-supported clubs in the country, but their records in this competition couldn’t be more different. While the Reds are going for their third triumph in four years and their 11th overall, the Magpies have never won this tournament.
Indeed, the Tynesiders’ wait for a major trophy goes all the way back to 1969, when they lifted the Fairs Cup (precursor to the UEFA Cup), so victory for them in northwest London at the weekend would trigger scenes of jubilation among their fanbase.
If Newcastle are to triumph, though, they’ll have to do so without Anthony Gordon, who’s serving a suspension after what David Seaman branded a ‘stupid’ red card in their recent FA Cup defeat to Brighton (Seaman Says Podcast).
Which team are favourites to win the Carabao Cup final?
They’d also have to upset the odds, with Betway citing Liverpool as favourites to repeat their Wembley success of last year and give Arne Slot his first trophy just nine months into the job.
It probably won’t be his only silverware of the season if the result goes his way on Sunday, with the Reds currently enjoying a mammoth 15-point lead in the Premier League and looking all but assured of dethroning Manchester City as champions.
Coincidentally, the last time that Pep Guardiola’s side were seeking to win a particular trophy for the fifth year in a row, it was the Carabao Cup (in 2021/22). On that occasion, the team who instead claimed the prize? Yep, Liverpool.
Will Liverpool live up to favourites tag and win another Carabao Cup final?
Based on the league table, it’s natural that Slot’s team will go to Wembley as favourites, and they were good value for their 2-0 victory over Newcastle when the sides met in the top flight at the end of February.
However, the Magpies were without top scorer Alexander Isak that night and – barring any injury arising this week – will have him available for the final on Sunday. Given how strongly the Reds have been linked with the Swede, they need no reminding as to how lethal he can be.
With an international break to come and both teams out of the FA Cup, this will actually be the last fixture that Liverpool and Newcastle have in March, so Carabao Cup success will give the winner a tremendous morale boost ahead of the final run-in to the season when it resumes at the start of April.
The Reds’ last five finals in this tournament all went to extra time, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if that sequence were extended at the weekend. However, we’re confident that Slot’s side have the quality to once again leave Wembley with the three-handled trophy!