Chris Sutton is worried about Newcastle United’s record against Liverpool ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
The Magpies face the Reds at Wembley on Sunday, as Eddie Howe and Arne Slot prepare to do battle for the first trophy of the season.
Newcastle United can end their trophy drought, while Liverpool can claim their first bit of silverware since Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
It should be a thrilling contest, but one that Liverpool are favourites for. After all, they are flying under Slot, with the Premier League title seemingly on its way to Anfield.
On top of that, Eddie Howe’s record against Liverpool is not great. He has only beaten them once during his managerial career, and that was when he was Bournemouth manager.
Howe has never beaten Liverpool with Newcastle. History is against him as he aims to end his obsession of winning silverware as Newcastle United manager.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Chris Sutton predicts Newcastle vs Liverpool
However, Chris Sutton has told BBC Sport that he thinks the Magpies’ wait for a trophy is going to carry on.
The former Blackburn Rovers has predicted that Liverpool will beat Newcastle United in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
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“We all know how much it would mean for Newcastle to end their long wait for a major trophy, but they have not beaten Liverpool since December 2015, a run of 17 games,” he said.
“When you consider the Magpies are without Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon – their entire first-choice on the left flank – I really don’t see that run ending at Wembley.
“I am expecting Tino Livramento to replace Hall and try to stop Mohamed Salah. Livramento is mobile and quick, but I don’t think he will keep Salah quiet all game.
“It won’t be easy for Liverpool, though. They are without Trent Alexander-Arnold and, with Conor Bradley likely to be sidelined too, they will need to find someone to fill in at right-back.
“The midfield battle will be key, because Newcastle are very good in that area, especially now Joelinton is back alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, but it is one of Liverpool’s strengths too.
“Arne Slot’s biggest issue is how the Reds will react to the disappointment of going out of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, but I don’t see them having a hangover from that shootout defeat.
“My gut feeling is that we will see a few goals, and Liverpool will win in 90 minutes.”
Sutton’s prediction: Newcastle United 2 Liverpool 3
Injuries and history against Newcastle United
There are multiple factors that make Newcastle United the underdogs.
The main one is that they have not won a trophy since 1969. And to win one on Sunday, they will have to beat a team in Liverpool who their record against is appalling.
Newcastle United would have greater hope if they were going into the game with a full strength squad, but that is not happening either.
Anthony Gordon is suspended, while Lewis Hall is injured. Both players would have started at Wembley if they were available.
Sven Botman is also out of action, handing Howe another blow.
But Newcastle have a lot of quality, while there is still hope that they can beat Liverpool.
Toon fans are not going to Wembley with a defeatist attitude. They are going there to win, as Eddie Howe and his players get a fresh chance to immortalise themselves on Tyneside.