Can Arne Slot claim his first trophy as Liverpool manager, or will Eddie Howe finally break Newcastle’s long-standing drought? Dive into our Liverpool vs Newcastle preview and prediction for the 2024/25 Carabao Cup final.
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Liverpool vs Newcastle: Preview
Sunday’s Carabao Cup final is set to be a landmark occasion—either Liverpool will match Manchester United’s record for the most domestic cup trophies in English football history, or Newcastle United will break a staggering seven-decade wait for major silverware.
Defending champions Liverpool have the chance to claim their 19th English cup trophy with a victory at Wembley, putting them level with their arch-rivals. A win would also mark Arne Slot’s first taste of silverware since taking charge of the Reds. While Liverpool remain on course for the Premier League title next month, securing this trophy would help erase the disappointment of their recent UEFA Champions League exit.
However, no team craves success more than Newcastle. The Magpies last lifted a major domestic trophy in 1955 when they won the FA Cup, enduring decades of near misses since. They have suffered five major domestic final defeats (two in the League Cup and three in the FA Cup), with only Chelsea experiencing a longer barren run in recent years (three League Cup and three FA Cup final losses since 2019). Their most recent shot at glory came two years ago, only to be denied by Manchester United in the final.
This will be Newcastle’s third-ever League Cup final appearance, their last coming in 1976. Meanwhile, Liverpool will be competing in their 15th final in this competition, having already won it a record 10 times. Adding to Newcastle’s challenge, they have lost each of their last nine matches at Wembley—the worst record of any team in the stadium’s history.
Liverpool also have history on their side. The last four times the reigning League Cup holders reached the final, they successfully defended their crown—Manchester United did so in 2009-10, while Manchester City repeated the feat in 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 during their four-year reign in the competition.
For Eddie Howe and Newcastle, overcoming the odds would be more than just a club-defining moment. It would also be a significant achievement for English managers in modern football. No English boss has won a major trophy with a Premier League club since Harry Redknapp’s FA Cup triumph with Portsmouth in 2008, and the last to lift the League Cup was Steve McClaren with Middlesbrough in 2004.
But before Howe dares to dream of rewriting history, he knows his team must first find a way to stop Mohamed Salah on Sunday. The Egyptian is not only enjoying what might be the finest season of his career, but also one of the greatest ever by a Premier League player—and he thrives against Newcastle.
The 32 year old has been directly involved in 18 goals in 16 appearances against the Magpies across all competitions (10 goals, 8 assists), with only Manchester United (22) and Manchester City (21) seeing him contribute more.
That said, Newcastle have their own attacking threats.
Much of their hopes may rest on Alexander Isak delivering a standout performance against Virgil van Dijk—an incredibly tough task, but one he has experience with. The Swedish striker has registered four goal contributions in five games against Liverpool (3 goals, 1 assist—all in the Premier League), including scoring and assisting in Newcastle’s December 2024 clash with the Reds at St. James’ Park.
However, Newcastle’s challenge is made harder by key absences. Anthony Gordon (suspended) and Lewis Hall (out for the season) leave them without their first-choice options on the left flank, while Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman remain sidelined.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will be relieved by Gordon’s absence, especially as both of their senior right-backs are unavailable. Conor Bradley isn’t expected to return from a thigh injury until April, and Trent Alexander-Arnold would be a surprise inclusion after limping off during Tuesday’s costly Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Head-to-head
Aside from their struggles in finals and at Wembley, Newcastle also have a woeful record against Liverpool.
The Magpies have failed to win any of their last 17 encounters with the Reds across all competitions (D5, L12—all in the Premier League) since a 2-0 home victory under Steve McClaren in December 2015. Only their 19-game winless streak against Manchester United between 2002 and 2011 stands as a longer drought against any opponent in their history.
That said, meetings between these sides in the League Cup have been rare.
This will be just their third clash in the competition—Newcastle claimed a 1-0 win at Anfield in the 1995-96 fourth round, while Liverpool responded with a 2-0 victory at St. James’ Park in the 1997-98 quarter-finals.
Sunday’s showdown will also mark just the second domestic cup final between the two clubs, the first being Liverpool’s 3-0 triumph in the 1974 FA Cup final.
With that, this fixture will become only the 20th in history to feature in both the FA Cup and League Cup finals.
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Liverpool – Team News
Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Both Liverpool and Newcastle head to Wembley with the trophy on the line, as Arne Slot aims to secure his first piece of silverware as Reds boss.
Slot has enjoyed a relatively smooth first season since succeeding Jurgen Klopp, who, in a twist of fate, won last year’s Carabao Cup before stepping away from management.
However, Liverpool’s Champions League campaign came to a heartbreaking end on Tuesday, as they were eliminated by PSG in the last 16 on penalties. The defeat at Anfield came with an additional setback—Alexander-Arnold was forced off during the match and has now been ruled out of Sunday’s final.
With Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley also sidelined, Jarell Quansah is likely to start at right-back. Midfielder Tyler Morton remains unavailable due to a shoulder injury.
There is positive news for Liverpool, though. Ibrahima Konaté, who was substituted in extra time against PSG, is expected to be fit after Slot confirmed post-match that his withdrawal was likely due to fatigue. The French defender is set to train on Friday.
Given the high stakes of the PSG clash, Slot named a strong lineup, so any changes on Sunday will likely be enforced rather than tactical.
Cody Gakpo, who recently returned from injury, could be in contention to start on the left, allowing Luis Díaz to move centrally in place of either Darwin Núñez or Diogo Jota.
Liverpool – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Alisson
- Defenders: Quansah, Konate, Van Dijik, Robertson
- Midfielders: Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai
- Forwards: Gakpo, Salah, Jota
Newcastle – Team News
Eddie Howe has confirmed that Newcastle United have no new injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle and Liverpool will face off at Wembley, with Howe aiming to secure the club’s first major domestic trophy since 1955.
While Newcastle’s Premier League form has been inconsistent over the past season, Howe has reshaped the team into a formidable force in knockout competitions.
The Magpies will be eager to redeem themselves after their disappointing performance in the 2023 final against Manchester United, where they failed to make an impact in their first major final appearance in decades.
Their preparation for this year’s final, however, has been far from ideal. Anthony Gordon is suspended following the straight red card he received in Newcastle’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton earlier this month.
To fill the void on the left flank, Howe has options in Harvey Barnes, Joe Willock, and Joelinton. In their semi-final second-leg victory over Arsenal, Newcastle deployed a back-three, pushing Gordon up front alongside Alexander Isak.
If Howe opts for a similar setup, Callum Wilson could potentially partner Isak in attack, though that scenario appears unlikely.
Defensively, Newcastle will be without two key players. Lewis Hall is sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing ankle surgery, while Sven Botman requires another knee operation.
Tino Livramento is expected to replace Hall at left-back, ahead of Matt Targett or Dan Burn, with Kieran Trippier set to start on the right.
Burn will likely slot into central defense alongside Fabian Schär, while the midfield lineup should be straightforward—unless Joelinton is shifted to the left wing, in which case Willock could join Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali in the center of the park.
Newcastle – Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Pope
- Defenders: Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento
- Midfielders: Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton
- Forwards: Murphy, Isak, Willock
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Prediction
If Murphy, Isak, and Barnes can replicate the brilliance of Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Slot’s weakened defense—particularly the vulnerable right flank—could face another difficult test.
However, Newcastle have also struggled defensively in recent weeks, raising doubts about whether a squad with significantly less cup-final experience than Liverpool can handle the pressure.
A tightly contested match is still likely, especially with Howe’s side benefiting from fresher legs. However, Slot remains the favorite to orchestrate a narrow victory and claim his first trophy in English football.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United
When and Where to Watch the Liverpool vs Newcastle? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The highly anticipated Carabao Cup final clash between Liverpool and Newcastle is set for Sunday, March 16, at the Wembley Stadium, kicking off at 10 pm. (IST). The match will be streamed online and will be available on FanCode, allowing fans to follow the high-stakes game on their preferred device. With a thrilling encounter anticipated at the Wembley stadium, supporters won’t want to miss a moment of this final showdown.
Read More: Premier League 2024/25: Arsenal vs Chelsea – Preview, Prediction And Where To Watch The Match LIVE
FAQs
Why is Mohamed Salah a key player against Newcastle?
Salah has been directly involved in 18 goals in 16 appearances against Newcastle (10 goals, 8 assists), making him a significant threat.
What is Newcastle’s record against Liverpool in recent years?
Newcastle are winless in their last 17 meetings with Liverpool in all competitions (D5 L12) since their last victory in December 2015.
Which key players are missing for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final?
Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Bradley, and Tyler Morton due to injuries, while Ibrahima Konaté is expected to feature.
How has Newcastle prepared for the Carabao Cup final?
Eddie Howe’s side has no new injury concerns, but key players like Anthony Gordon (suspended) and Lewis Hall (injured) will be absent.
What is the predicted score for the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle?
iverpool are predicted to win 2-1, with Arne Slot securing his first trophy in English football.
