By LEWIS STEELE
Published: 10:02 EDT, 15 March 2025 | Updated: 10:02 EDT, 15 March 2025
The 65th League Cup final will see 10-time winners Liverpool take on two-time runners-up Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday.
Liverpool won this tournament last season but will be looking for their first trophy of the Arne Slot era.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will be aiming to end their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
Liverpool will start as clear favourites, despite missing star right back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Newcastle have availability issues of their own. Lewis Hall, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles will all miss the final with various injury issues, while former Liverpool youth player Anthony Gordon is suspended.
Ahead of the final, Mail Sport's LEWIS STEELE has identified five big questions that will be answered on Sunday.
Wembley Stadium is ready for Sunday's Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle
Sunday's game could end with Arne Slot winning his first trophy since taking the Liverpool job
Will Slot keep trust in Kelleher?
Alisson has proved himself as one of the best goalkeepers — if not the best — in world football in the last month but he may spend Sunday sat on the bench.
Caoimhin Kelleher is the cup keeper for Liverpool and Arne Slot has a big decision to make over whether the Irishman stays in goal or not.
If so, it could be Kelleher's final game for the Reds — he has previously stated his desire to go and be a No 1 elsewhere but, with starring roles in a 2022 domestic cup double and winning this competition last year, he has only fond memories of Wembley. So far…
Can Barnes fill Gordon void?
When Anthony Gordon foolishly struck Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke with a forearm in the FA Cup, many Newcastle fans thought their chances of winning this final had dwindled significantly.
The boyhood Liverpool fan will be suspended and, with full back Lewis Hall injured, Newcastle's left-hand side has been obliterated.
But Harvey Barnes has enjoyed a pleasing run in the team and has a huge chance to prove to Eddie Howe — and perhaps even Thomas Tuchel — why he can be a game-changer on the biggest stages.
Anthony Gordon will miss the final as he is serving a ban following a red card against Brighton
In Gordon's absence, Newcastle No 11 Harvey Barnes is almost certain to start at Wembley
Can Quansah justify England call?
Eyebrows were raised when the Liverpool defender was picked by Tuchel ahead of the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite from the club across Stanley Park.
But according to Slot, the 22-year-old has outgrown the tag of being a 'young talent' and can kick on from here.
A tough season for him after being hooked at half-time on the opening weekend but now he has his manager's trust again and will start at right back ahead of the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Can Isak show Liverpool what they're missing?
Alexander Isak has won a domestic cup at each of his former clubs, the DFB Pokal with Borussia Dortmund and the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad. Can he do the same here?
The Swede had a frustrating afternoon in the 2023 final, starting as a substitute that day, but comes into this match as one of Europe's hottest strikers.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have struggled for goals from their No 9s this season with Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota both going through a sticky patch.
Alexander Isak has hit 22 goals for Newcastle this season, including 19 in the Premier League
Diogo Jota (left) and Darwin Nunez have just 15 goals between them in all comps this season
Will Newcastle fans be drowning their sorrows?
They won't be able to! LNER and the police are working together to ban alcohol from their services back to the north east — though credit to the train company for putting on two extra services at 9.30pm and 10pm after previous Wembley farces that left northern fans stranded.
London was already swarming with black and white shirts on Saturday as the capital prepared for another Geordie takeover.
Many were spotted enjoying the spring sunshine — will they still be smiling on Sunday evening having ended a seven-decade trophy drought?