Liverpool are closing in on a date at Wembley, as the Carabao Cup final comes into view.
The Reds still have two big games to get through before their meeting with Newcastle in London, but there’ll already have half an eye on taking home the first silverware of the season.
And after events of the past week or so, it has become increasingly clear that Liverpool are overwhelming favourites to defend their title.
Newcastle are a very good side and should not be underestimated. They steamrollered Arsenal in the semi-finals and have given Liverpool a tough game already this season.
But the Magpies have been hit with a salvo of bad news ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
Anthony Gordon was handed a three-game suspension after being sent off against Brighton last week. Meanwhile, it has since been revealed that Lewis Hall and Sven Botman will miss the final through injury. Down some key players, Eddie Howe is reportedly formulating his plan.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Newcastle planning Carabao Cup final formation change
Liverpool will still have to be at their best to beat Newcastle next Sunday. There can be no room at all for complacency.
As the Reds themselves showed last year against Chelsea, a depleted team can still get over the line at Wembley.
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And according to The Athletic, Newcastle and manager Howe are not panicking ahead of their second shot at this final in three seasons.
They claim that Howe has a ‘variety of options’ to replace Gordon at left-wing. Harvey Barnes is a natural replacement, but it’s claimed that the former Leicester man is ‘far from guaranteed’ to come in.
READ MORE: What’s been said about Anthony Gordon joining Liverpool this summer as Newcastle man ruled out of Carabao Cup final
Instead, Newcastle could reportedly bring in Joe Willock and Joelinton as ‘hybrid, dovetailing left-sided No 8s and left-wingers.’
In terms of replacing Hall, it’s claimed that the choice is more clear for Howe. He is claimed to be readying Tino Livramento to switch side from right to left-back, meaning veteran Kieran Trippier is likely to start on the right.
Who will play for Liverpool?
As well as detailing what Howe could do in the absence of two key men, The Athletic reiterate the point that Alexander Isak will be fit to face Liverpool.
Isak has been heavily linked with the Reds and has proven to be a thorn in their side in the past. He is capable of winning any match on any given day.
But Liverpool should not be scared of anything Newcastle throw at them. The Magpies have an abysmal record against the Reds and on paper Arne Slot’s team are stronger.
Slot does have one or two injury issues of his own, with Cody Gakpo struggling to return from an ankle problem.
Joe Gomez is definitely ruled out, while it seems likely that Conor Bradley will not make it either. Otherwise, unless any issues arise over the next two matches, Liverpool are set to have a full complement at Wembley.