Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has offered his view on how Liverpool will need to bounce back from their Champions League exit to PSG on penalties.
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Paul Merson looks on
Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has offered his view on Liverpool ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup final
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Paul Merson believes Newcastle United will hold a big advantage going into Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. The Reds crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday night after losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain, following a gruelling 30 minutes of extra-time.
Arne Slot's side saw their dreams of a treble end in heartbreaking fashion at Anfield as attention now turns to the League Cup and Premier League. Slot's team lost 1-0 on the night thanks to a first-half goal from Ousmane Dembele, which cancelled out Harvey Elliot's winner in the first leg.
The Reds still had the chance to progress on penalties; however, misses from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones saw Liverpool end the night disappointed. Slot's men must now pick themselves up for Sunday's League Cup final against Newcastle, who will be chasing their first major trophy since 1955.
Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal midfielder Merson has now shared his view that Liverpool will need to recover mentally more than physically in time for this weekend's huge clash at Wembley Stadium.
"Got to pick them up for the League Cup final," he told Sky Sports. "I know it's a nice one to get picked up for, but they'll be disappointed, you know, playing here tonight, going out the Champions League, and you looked at the draw and if they could have won, they would have probably played Aston Villa where they'd have fancied themselves, even though I thought it'd have been a hard game.
"Now they've got to pick themselves up. I would think mentally, losing the game. If they'd have won the game and won on penalties, they'd have that energy. It would have come, you get the air in the lungs.
"Now they'd be a bit distraught. They'll be disappointed. They've got to pick themselves up for a cup final against a team that haven't won a trophy since I was born, so it's a massive football match. Big advantage to Newcastle tonight."