Liverpool will take on Newcastle United looking to retain their Carabao Cup crown this weekend.
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Liverpool celebrate at Wembley during last season's Carabao Cup victory.
Liverpool are hoping to retain the Carabao Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back from midweek disappointment and win the first trophy of Arne Slot's Anfield tenure. But it won't be a straightforward assignment for them at the national stadium.
The Reds were disappointingly knocked out of the Champions League in midweek after their penalty shootout defeat to Ligue side PSG, despite leading the tie 1-0 from the first leg. Harvey Elliott's goal in Paris was cancelled out by Ousmane Dembele in Merseyside, with penalties needed to find a winner.
Liverpool will be out to avoid a repeat of that heartache when they take on Newcastle United at Wembley this weekend. Thousands of supporters are making the trip to the home of English football daring to dream.
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Slot's side are undoubtedly favourites heading into the clash at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, March 16 with kick-off at 4.30pm. However, they won't be getting carried away.
Liverpool want to retain the trophy they won last year - under Jurgen Klopp - while Eddie Howe's side are out to end a 70-year trophy drought and take the trophy back to the north east. The Reds needed extra-time to win competition last season, with Virgil van Dijk scoring the all important goal in the 118th-minute to break Chelsea hearts.
If they were to win the Carabao Cup, once again, this weekend, the Reds would also secure a return to European football with a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifying stages guaranteed for the winner. However, given that they're currently 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, it's likely they'll forfeit their place in the competition by qualifying for the Champions League.
But what would they win in terms of prize money? Unfortunately for Liverpool, it wouldn't be all that much of a financial boost as top-flight clubs continue to comply with PSR.
In fact, the winners of this year's competition will only receive £100,000 in prize money, while the runners-up take home £50,000. The prize money is dwarfed by other competitions and it, perhaps, offers an insight as to why clubs prioritise other avenues, at least in the early stages.
In the Premier League last season, all 20 clubs were awarded more than £100million for their final positions in the top-flight. The FA Cup, meanwhile, pays out £2million to the winners - as well as prize money along the way.