Liverpool vs Newcastle – Carabao Cup final match preview and team news | OneFootball

Liverpool and Newcastle grace the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium this afternoon for the 2025 Carabao Cup final.

The Reds are looking to retain the trophy while the Magpies are desperate to end a 70-year wait for major silverware.

Trent Alexander-Arnold misses the final after sustaining a worrying ankle injury in Tuesday’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Arne Slot is hopeful the dynamic full-back will return before the end of the season.

The Englishman’s absence creates a selection conundrum for Slot, with other recognised right-backs Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez also unavailable.

There is a strong possibility that Caoimhin Kelleher starts in between the sticks ahead of Alisson. The Irish stopper has typically been preferred in cup competitions this term.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe also has some decisions to make ahead of the crucial game in the capital.

Merseyside native Anthony Gordon is unable to play in the Wembley showdown due to suspension. The 24-year-old received a three-match ban for violent conduct in the FA Cup tie with Brighton a fortnight ago.

Key defenders Lewis Hall and Sven Botman are also ruled out due to injury issues. The former is out for the season with an ankle injury while the latter is still struggling with knee issues following his anterior cruciate ligament tear last year.

Liverpool vs Newcastle – Match preview and team news

Form

Liverpool: WWWWL

It was penalty shootout heartbreak for the Reds on Tuesday as they crashed out of the Champions League. PSG levelled the tie on aggregate through Ousmane Dembele, sending the game to extra time and spot kicks. Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones’ failure to convert from 12 yards sealed their fate in Europe’s elite competition.

Under Slot’s predecessor Jurgen Klopp, the Merseyside-based club lifted the Carabao Cup for the 10th time last year. A youthful outfit beat Chelsea courtesy of an 118th minute winner from captain Virgil van Dijk.

Read – Liverpool predicted lineup vs Newcastle ahead of Carabao Cup final

Newcastle: LWLLW

Newcastle were last in action on Monday night as they narrowly beat West Ham at the London Stadium. Bruno Guimaraes’ second half goal was the difference in what was a scrappy affair under the lights.

A 14th league win of the season took the Magpies up to sixth in the Premier League table and two points off the coveted top four. However, their primary objective is focused around creating history this afternoon.

The last time Newcastle won a major honour was back in the 1954/55 season when they lifted the FA Cup. In the seven decades that have since passed, the club has experienced repeated disappointment in their pursuit for silverware.

Read – Newcastle United predicted lineup ahead of Liverpool clash

Last Meeting

Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle, Premier League, 26th February 2025

Liverpool comfortably prevailed over Newcastle with an accomplished performance at Anfield just a few weeks ago.

Protests reverberated around the stadium early on as the home faithful felt they should have been awarded a penalty. Lewis Hall stumbled to the ground and inadvertently impeded Mo Salah, but their appeals were dismissed.

The lively Dominik Szoboszlai managed to breach Nick Pope’s goal in the 11th minute to give Liverpool the advantage. Luis Diaz was afforded the time and space to pick out the Hungarian, whose shot went through the legs of Dan Burn and beyond Pope’s fingertips.

Callum Wilson, who was deputising for the injured Alexander Isak, then had a glorious opportunity to level matters. The striker latched onto an inconspicuous clearance, but his miscued effort spun wide of the mark.

Szoboszlai was left unmarked again by Newcastle and came inches away from profiting for a second time. His shot curled just wide, much to the relief of the travelling support behind the goal.

After the interval, Arne Slot’s players continued to dominate and they doubled the deficit in the 63rd minute. The second shared some similarities with the first. Salah poked a pass into the middle to find Alexis Mac Allister, who exquisitely swept the ball into the top corner.

Salah’s wonderful creativity deserved more follow a brisk counter-attack from the Reds. The Egyptian used the outside of his foot to fashion a searching cross to the back post. Diaz reached the pass a second too late and fired wide from close-range.

Cody Gakpo almost increased their lead with an acrobatic effort in the dying embers, but it bounced off target.

Another victory on Merseyside extended the gap at the top the table to 13 points over title challenges Arsenal.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at Wembley Stadium will be at 16:30 GMT on Sunday, 16th March 2025.

Who is the referee?

John Brooks will be the match official. Eddie Smart and Nick Greenhalgh will assist him while Darren England will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Stuart Attwell and he will be assisted by Sian Massey-Ellis.

Read – The most memorable League Cup final moments ever

Predicted Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Quansah, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Gakpo.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Barnes.

What TV channel will Liverpool vs Newcastle be on?

The Carabao Cup final will be shown on ITV1, ITVX, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Ultra and NOW UK.

Liverpool vs Newcastle betting odds

Liverpool: 7/10

Draw: 3/1

Newcastle: 7/2

Read – The fastest Premier League players to 100 goal involvements

See Also – Sunday might just be the best day of football this season

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