There will be a couple of different threats for Liverpool to nullify from their opponents compared to the win at Anfield two weeks ago
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Barnes and Isak will be the main attacking threats for Newcastle (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Liverpool can respond perfectly to their midweek Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain by overcoming a Newcastle United side hit by injury and suspension issues in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.
Arne Slot’s ability to lift his players off the canvas following their bitterly disappointing penalty shootout defeat will be tested as the Dutchman looks to capture the first piece of major silverware available during his time in charge of the Reds.
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While the proximity of Wednesday’s game against PSG to the Cup final could be a hindrance, this season’s Premier League Champions-elect will be confident of moving one step closer to a domestic double.
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Twelve months after a 118th-minute header from Virgil van Dijk saw Liverpool battle past Chelsea, the Reds travel return to the capital hoping their trophy-winning pedigree will make all the difference.
Although Eddie Howe has transformed Newcastle United from relegation candidates to a battle-hardened cup team, the club’s last major trophy came in 1969 when they defeated Hungarian side Ujpest in the since defunct Inter-Cities Fairs cup final over two legs.
Their domestic barren run extends even further – you have to go back almost 70 years to their 3-1 win against Manchester City in the 1955 FA Cup final for the last time the Magpies achieved success outside of European competition.
And with first-choice centre-back Sven Botman and left-back Lewis Hall set to miss the rest of the campaign through injury and Liverpool-born former Everton winger Anthony Gordon forced to watch from the sidelines after being sent off during his team’s loss to Brighton, Newcastle will have to get the most out of a depleted squad to end their trophy drought.
However, Howe’s side have received a boost ahead of the final with star striker Alexander Isak declaring himself fully fit to start on Sunday. In recent seasons, the 25-year-old has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most potent forwards and has scored 22 goals already this term.
But, while the Sweden international will capture the headlines ahead of Sunday’s showpiece, Slot will be especially wary of Newcastle’s threat on the counterattack.
In the absence of Gordon, and with Jarell Quansah likely to deputise at right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold sustained an ankle injury against PSG, Toon fans will hope the stage is set for Harvey Barnes to play a starring role.
The left-winger could provide an important escape route for a Newcastle side expected to be under heavy pressure throughout the match and has proven goalscoring credentials having found the back of the net five times across seven starts this campaign.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool can reproduce the dominant midfield performance that characterised their 2-0 victory over Newcastle when the sides met at the end of February.
The familiar Reds’ trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai got the better Joe Willock, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimares at Anfield two weeks ago, but on neutral territory, Slot will know the importance of his team controlling the centre of the park again.
In a moment tenacious deep-lying playmaker Guimares can go from the metronome through which Newcastle’s play revolves, to a live goal threat capable of crashing the box and scoring an important winner.
If Liverpool can win the midfield battle and stop the Brazilian from influencing the contest, it's likely the Carabao Cup will be taken back to Anfield for the second season running.