Predicted Newcastle team v Liverpool for Carabao Cup Final at Wembley | OneFootball

Looking at the Newcastle team v Liverpool.

Eddie Howe and his players hoping to bring back to Tyneside the first silverware in 56 years.

What would be the first domestic trophy in 70 years.

Yes, I know we have a trip to West Ham first.

Be honest though, for all of us it is Wembley on Sunday 16 March that is dominating our thoughts.

So, what can we expect the Newcastle team v Liverpool to be?

Jamaal Lascelles is a long-term absentee and won’t be back in time for this match.

Sadly, recent days have seen three other Newcastle United players also ruled out.

An official club announcement revealing that Lewis Hall will have surgery on his foot and will miss the rest of the season.

Eddie Howe confirming that Anthony Gordon misses the next three games, the club not appealing his three match suspension.

A media exclusive on Wednesday night revealing that Sven Botman is set to have knee surgery.

So where does that leave us…

My predicted Newcastle team v Liverpool:

Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Willock, Isak, Murphy

Subs:

Dubravka, Krafth, Targett, Barnes, Miley, Longstaff, Wilson, Osula

The fact that I couldn’t name a ninth sub, kind of sums up just how small the Newcastle United squad is, not helped of course by this terrible bad luck of recent days meaning three big players unavailable.

Assuming all 19 players named above are available as options for the Newcastle team v Liverpool…it would appear then to be a choice for Eddie Howe of putting one of the kids on the bench, or another keeper.

Why my choice of Newcastle team v Liverpool?

Well, obviously with Botman, Hall and Gordon ruled out, that massively ‘helps’ to decide the likely starting eleven, both for myself AND Eddie Howe.

Back before the November 2024 international break, we saw a reminder of just how good that Willock/Joelinton combination can be on the left. Three wins in a row at home to Chelsea (Carabao Cup) and Arsenal, then away at Forest.

Those games against Arsenal and Forest saw Anthony Gordon switched to the right from what I remember, which of course included that beautiful cross for Isak’s winner against the Gunners.

Obviously no Anthony Gordon for this Cup Final, so if my Willock/Joelinton on the left proves correct, it appears to be a choice of Murphy or Barnes on the right.

Murphy has better form this season AND Barnes usually looks more dangerous off the bench, so that’s my reasoning.

I think Nick Pope is a better keeper than Martin Dubravka, so for me Pope has to play this time, having missed out two years ago when Karius was a big weakness, two goals that I am sure Pope would have prevented.

Lewis Miley has done well recently but Eddie Howe for sure going with that midfield trio and hoping they can combine as they did so well as they did previously this season.

Trippier will play right for sure, with Livramento up against Salah on the other side.

Always possible that Eddie Howe could surprise with a different formation and maybe three/five at the back, but I think Botman’s absence means that is very unlikely.