Even with Liverpool’s form, this game was always going to be an uphill battle for Newcastle but finding a way to win without Gordon might be too tall a task. Expect the Reds to put this week’s Champions League defeat behind them and rediscover their strong performances of this season in order to win Slot’s first trophy as the Liverpool boss. Pick: Liverpool 2, Newcastle United 0
The midfield trio of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes will have to shine brightest to bring glory to Newcastle. Without wide players to advance play, they’ll have to attempt to go at the heart of Liverpool’s defense. A talented trio in the middle, Newcastle can do that given the varying skills of each midfielder and their abilities to shoot from outside the box, but winning the midfield battle against Liverpool is quite a task. There’s a reason why the Reds are atop the Premier League by 15 points, but they haven’t been an infallible side this season. Newcastle’s midfield can make magic happen and Wembley is just the place for it.
On the left side of Newcastle’s formation, fullback Lewis Hall will miss out due to a season-ending foot injury, but Gordon’s absence from this match is a self-inflicted one. In the fifth round of the FA Cup, Gordon received a straight red card for shoving Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke to the ground. Gordon was then issued a three-match suspension for violent conduct which Newcastle had the ability to appeal. The Magpies did not, deeming that it was an appropriate suspension, but that means Gordon won’t be available until April 7 when they host Leicester City.
While that card was handed out in the FA Cup, it also carries over to other competitions, unlike yellow cards. So, no matter what domestic competitions would be next for Gordon, he won’t be available for them, and that means he’s out for the EFL Cup Final and two Premier League matches.
The pressure will be on Newcstle’s midfield to make things happen today.
Newcastle United starters: Nick Pope, Valentino Livramento, Dan Burn, Fabian Schar, Kieran Trippier, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Harvey Barnes, Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy
Reserves: Martin Dubravka, Emil Krafth, Matt Targett, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley, Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson, Sean Neave, William Osula
Ibrahima Kounate has passed fit to participate in the final while Jarell Quansah will feature for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool starters: Caoimhin Kelleher, Andrew Robertson, Virgil Van Djik, Ibrahima Kounate, Jarell Quansah, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah
Reserves: Alisson, Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott, Konstantinos Tsimikas, James McConnel
Liverpool are hoping for two trophies this season, while Newcastle are after their first domestic cup trophy since 1954-55. Our James Benge looked at the matchup ahead of the match and had the following to say about both.
Liverpool
“Certainly, what history there is to be made for Liverpool is a little more esoteric. There will be no treble, but a win on Sunday would draw Arne Slot’s men level with Manchester United for the most domestic cups won in England. Sometime in April or May they will tie their great rivals on 20 top-flight titles. Add in their superior record in the European Cup and the statistical case that the greatest team in the country plays at Anfield becomes hard to debate.”
Newcastle
“Eddie Howe’s side, backed by the transformative wealth of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, are tailor-made to take on the best in the land. They showed as much in a semifinal against Arsenal where they rode the moments on the back foot, trusting that star forward Alexander Isak could win it for them at the other end. Newcastle have had to get to Wembley the hard way, beating Chelsea and Brentford on their way to the Arsenal semifinal they won so emphatically. That rather suits this team.”
This tournament has been held since 1960, known as the Football League Cup for 65 years, and for the last nine years it’s been known as the EFL Cup. No team has won the competition more than Liverpool, with the Reds making 14 finals and winning it 10 times. They won it last year against Chelsea thanks to a goal in extra time by Virgil van Dijk. Newcastle have made the final twice in their history ahead of Sunday’s game, losing both finals in 1976 and 2023. The most recent final saw them lose to Manchester United 2-0 with goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.
Liverpool: Alisson, Andrew Robertson, Virgil Van Djik, Ibrahima Kounate, Jarell Quansah, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah
Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Valentino Livramento, Dan Burn, Fabian Schar, Kieran Trippier, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Harvey Barnes, Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy
During an emotional 120 minutes of soccer facing PSG on Tuesday, during which Liverpool fell in a penalty shootout, the Reds also saw Alexander-Arnold depart the match with an ankle sprain in the 73rd minute. Jarell Quansah would enter to play right back for the remainder of the clash. Manager Arne Slot has now ruled Alexander-Arnold out although he does think there’s a chance that Ibrahima Kounate can make the final.
“So, Trent is indeed not available. He will not be there at the final. But he is still to be assessed for how long it’s going to take but we do expect him back in the end of the season,” Slot said about Alexander-Arnold’s fitness.
With Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley already sidelined with thigh injuries, Slot is down three right backs for this cup final. That will likely lead to Quansah needing to deputize there on Sunday and Wataru Endo coming in at center back if Konate doesn’t pass his fitness test. Liverpool have been able to win on plenty of occasions without their best players being available, but this will push their depth to its limits in a cup final.
- Date: Sunday, March 16 | Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Wembley Stadium — London, England
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Liverpool -150; Draw +310; Newcastle United +390
It’s cup final day as Liverpool and Newcastle United will meet. These are two teams becoming very familiar with the EFL Cup final having now appeared in this match twice in the last three seasons but they’ve had very different fortunes when going for silverware. Liverpool has won the EFL Cup two more times than any other team with a record 10 victories while Newcastle hasn’t won a trophy since 1955 but that could change today.
