Liverpool against Newcastle: predictions, topics of conversation and the stars in the Carabao Cup final to see

The first trophy of the English domestic season can be won on Sunday when Arne Slots Liverpool competes against Eddie Howes Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final in Wembley.

The leaders of the Premier League, Liverpool, try to jump back after they have been deleted by Paris Saint-Germain from the last 16 of the Champions League this week, while Newcastle is going through a bit of drought in terms of winning things. They have had the Europa League since June 1969 (The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup-Was), and their youngest domestic trophy was the FA Cup 1954-55.

Both teams are missing without important players Alexander-Arnold by injuries to Liverpool and Anthony Gordon is suspended for Newcastle. How does that affect your teams? Can Liverpool stop Alexander Isak? Can Newcastle stop Mohamed Salah? And to which club does this final mean more?

Our Liverpool reporter Gregg Evans and the Newcastle writer Chris Waugh speak the most important topics of conversation before the massive game on Sunday (4:30 p.m. GMT, 12.30 p.m. et) …

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It is a final on the Wembley Cup – what is the mood in your club?

Evans: The Liverpool players had to raise in punishments after the loss against Paris Saint-Germain, but the preparation has sharpened the focus since then. Head coach Arne Slot believes that this is the perfect rebound game for his team, and the pain of Tuesday evening is replaced by joy (and a little relief) if it is planning today. Due to the square of the final in the calendar, winning the League Cup is the fastest way to a trophy for a manager who was appointed last summer, and this message was reinforced in various stages of the season. The earlier slot with Liverpool gets a first trophy with Liverpool, the better. Apart from problems in the right-back, in which both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley are likely to be missing from injury, Liverpool are pumped and ready.

Waugh: The nerves have been crushed for a long time; Tyneside and Tyneside-Upon-Thames, also known as London, her adopted home-away from home for the weekend is outside the tension, although this is mixed with enormous excitement. Bearers keep that the eternal hope that the notorious 70-year-old waiting for the club for a domestic trophy is finally to the end, but none of them can understand exactly how they will feel and look like if this will exist. There is recognition that Liverpool are important favorites, but Newcastle fans still stick to this dream of fame.

Who is this game more important?

Evans: It has to be Newcastle just because they are waiting for a large trophy for a long time. The transformation in the club in the last few years after the Takeover was interesting to see, but they really need silverware to validate this progress and to remember their long -term supporters for a day. It is also a guaranteed passage back to Europe, and while the qualification for the Champions League is still the main goal again, it is impossible to predict how the Premier League table will look at the end of the season, with so many teams that are fighting and also fighting for these coveted top five positions.

Waugh: I have to agree. After Newcastle and Liverpool in the 1974 FA Cup final were confronted with the latter triumph, the clubs were each 11 pieces of large cutlery. Liverpool has lifted 40 more trophies in the 51 years since then – and Newcastle did not take any stress (unless they count the Intertoto Cup, which nobody does). This immense longing for Silver does not decrease over time. It only grows. In addition, this “project” (for a lack of less crazy term) requires a trophy to ensure that it continues on an upward railway after a test year in front of the field. For Stalwarts such as Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Fabian Schar, this may be their best – and in some cases recently – chance to win with Newcastle Silberwaren. You simply cannot let this opportunity go.

Is there a rivalry between these teams?

Evans: I think it would be a route to say that, even though the games between them remain competitive.

Waugh: A rivalry would be a distance, yes, since Newcastle Liverpool has not defeated since 2015 and is not yet ready to fight the biggest trophies as the slots are already. There was a certain needle-die in real hostility between the two coaching setups between the two coaching setups when Jürgen Klopp was Liverpool's manager. The Newcastle employees had the feeling that they were almost respected at times, while Liverpool were frustrated by the tactics used by Eddie Howe's team during the games (and deputy head coach Jason Tindalls on the touchline). But that seems to have dissolved after Klopp's departure at the end of last season.

What did Newcastle learn from her latest appearance at Wembley in this final two years ago?

Waugh: This immense emotion can be a strong motivational tool, but also energy attempts. Howe rightly insists that Newcastle has to channel it correctly instead of trying to completely exclude the emotions this time. The extent of the return for the first time in 24 years was almost distracted in 2023, and Newcastle could not overcome a very strikable Manchester United. However, it would be wrong to interpret that intensive excitement was solely responsible for Newcastle's defeat on this day. In retrospect, Howe may regret some of his selection calls, while the reality was that Newcastle had no form in this final and lived through its worst time of the entire season. This time, while Newcastle is far from her wild best, they generated at least a certain dynamic by drying West Ham United on Monday.

Which Liverpool player needs a great performance?

Evans: Darwin Nunez really could do a big moment today to compensate for a disappointing season and his penalty in the shootout against PSG. It feels like things are going too worse for him. In 33 of the 39 games that he presented this season, not only did the club not only sign the club – a shocking record for a striker. He also missed an open goal against Aston Villa last month and then he was informed by Slot that he had to work harder for the team. It is difficult to see a future about the end of this season for Niterez in Anfield how things are.

How big is a Miss, is the suspended Anthony Gordon for Newcastle?

Waugh: Undoubtedly an important one, but it is not as harmful as last season, since Gordon was not in the same form. He scored seven goals and delivered six templates in all competitions this season, but his overall performance was up and down. However, the English international is a “big player”, and he would have enjoyed the view of facing Jarell Quansah again after giving the 22-year-old a hot first half on Tyneside during the 3: 3 draw between these clubs in December. At least Newcastle had fourteen days to prepare for a great absence, as this time was a suspension. Gordon's dismissal had clear parallels to Nick Pope's before the game in 2023, but it is by no means as consistent as that was, since Martin Dubravka was also tied and the goalkeeper of the third election, Loris Karius, was asked to give his debut instead instead.

How big is a miss of the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool?

Evans: Huge, especially when his defenders Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are also injured. This is the first time that Liverpool has a real injury crisis in a certain position throughout the season. So far, in times of need, they have always been able to call an appropriate alternative, and it will go back to Quansah to replace Alexander-Arnold. It remains to be seen whether Quansah can provide the same defense spliting attack qualities and the lower defensive solidity.

Who are Newcastle worried?

Waugh: Boring answer, but it has to be Mohamed Salah. He has 10 goals and eight templates in 17 appearances against Newcastle, including five and seven in eight games since Howe took responsibility in November 2021. With Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento Link is back. Being a natural right foot should help him prevent Salah from penetrating on his preferred left foot, but young England internally could not be exposed to a harder mandate at the moment in world football.

Who are Liverpool most concerned?

Evans: Alexander Isak. It was a stroke of luck for Liverpool that he missed the recent game between these two in the Premier League because he is a real handful. Slot said the best way to control Isak is to keep more possession of the ball. “In this way it is easier to control it, even though it definitely represents a threat to the counterattack.”

Where is this game decided?

Evans: Newcastles defense. If Howe can move in another master plan, as in the second leg of the semi -final victory against Arsenal, this could be the difference. Can you suffocate Liverpool in the same way? It is a tough question, but not impossible.

Waugh: An answer on the left field, I will grant you, but I would say in the minds of Newcastle players. Howe's team is in his relentless, high -pressure best if each of them is' mentally and physically 'on it'. You have to be in this psychological area today and, if you suffocate Liverpool and are exposed to the (admittedly small) weaknesses in the two Champions League games, then the best chance to secure a famous victory.

Forget football – who will win the vocal battle in the stands?

Evans: I would usually say Newcastle because they have an incredible series of supporters, especially from home, but I actually think that Liverpool, especially because I expect the game to gain the game so that they become energetic.

Waugh: Newcastle without a doubt. They may have lost the game two years ago, but the followers of Newcastle certainly won the weekend (unfortunately this title does not give their club a trophy, spirit …). People with bad flags have been planning their Wembley displays for weeks, and as long as the hangover has sung after their Saturday evening in Central London's Covent Garden, a black and white member of the game sings through the game.

What is your prediction?

Evans: To win Liverpool 2-0.

Waugh: One after 90 minutes; 2-1 to Newcastle after additional time. I am not sure whether I really believe this deep inside, but after I have only seen misery in Wembley, if I have only seen myself when I was reporting on Newcastle, I feel forced to go to Northwest London this time with a positive attitude.

(Top photos: Getty Images)