The day has finally arrived. It’s cup final day in London and the nerves have well and truly kicked in now as we wait to see if Eddie Howe’s Mags can overcome Liverpool to lift our first domestic trophy in 70 years.
After wins in previous rounds over Nottingham Forest, Wimbledon, Chelsea, Brentford and Arsenal, today’s 4.30pm kick-off in front of a packed out Wembley will decide it all.
The question is, who will Howe select in his starting 11 and what makes up Arne Slot’s XI? Here’s what we think and why…
**Newcastle (4-3-3):** Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
**Liverpool (4-3-3):** Kelleher – Quansah, Konate, Van Dijk, Roberton – Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister – Salah, Diaz, Gakpo.
Before Monday’s game I was unsure on who would start in goal and fancying Howe to opt for that left-sided combination of Joelinton and Joe Willock.
However, with Pope brought back into the side at West Ham, where he kept our first clean sheet in seven, and Harvey Barnes delivering a vital assist down the left, it feels like both are favourites to start the final.
Howe may feel a different set up is needed against the totally different test that awaits against Liverpool, so we can’t rule out the boss having a trick up his sleeve, but this feels like Barnes’ chance to exploit a Liverpool side missing a natural right-back, while Pope’s sweeper-keeper qualities could be helpful behind two slow centre-backs.
The midfield picks itself – Joelinton’s battling qualities are needed in the middle of the park – and Livramento will come in at left-back in Hall’s absence, seeing Trippier come in at right-back.
For Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold is out, with back up right-backs Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez also injured. This means Jarrell Quansah is likely to come in, although Slot did namecheck Curtis Jones as an option in that position.
Ibrahima Konate should be OK after fatigue forced him off on in Tuesday’s defeat to PSG, but it’s not clear who will start in goal after reports on Merseyside suggested no.2 Caoimhin Kelleher could be handed another cup start ahead of Alisson.
In attack, we think Diogo Jota’s poor form and Darwin Nunez’s erratic displays could see Luis Diaz start in a false nine role, meaning a fit-again Cody Gakpo returns down their left.