By Sam McGuire
For the Reds, it is a chance to carry this trophy for the third time in 4 seasons. For the Magpies, famously, it’s an opportunity for them to win their first piece of home silverware since 1955.
Does momentum matter?
Newcastle warmed up for this cup ultimate with a 1-0 win over West Ham United on Monday night time. Bruno Guimarães scored simply after the hour mark to maneuver the Magpies up from ninth into sixth spot within the Premier League. They’re now stage on factors with fifth positioned Manchester Metropolis and simply two factors off of Chelsea, the staff at the moment in possession of the ultimate Champions League place.
The win was simply their second in 5 matches. Throughout this run, they’ve misplaced to Manchester Metropolis (4-0), Liverpool (2-0) and had been knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton (2-1).
They haven’t been within the best type.
Liverpool, in the meantime, had gained 4 on the spin heading into their second-leg Champions League conflict with Paris Saint-Germain. They’ve prolonged their lead on the high of the Premier League to fifteen factors throughout this run. However a penalty shootout loss to the French champions ended any hopes of a treble this time period for the Reds.
It’ll be fascinating to see how they react to this hammer blow.
Historical past paints this fixture as very one-sided
The final time Newcastle United defeated Liverpool was in December 2015. Gini Wijnaldum scored for the Magpies in a 2-0 win. Since then, the Reds are on a 17-match unbeaten run towards Sunday’s opponents.
Type goes out of the window in these video games. Does historical past, although?
A ultimate is a one-off occasion. Nothing ought to matter, but we’ve seen it numerous instances prior to now. Unbeaten runs stay intact due to the psychology of the scenario somewhat than the rest. Eddie Howe hasn’t crushed Liverpool as Newcastle United supervisor. They’ve misplaced quite a lot of other ways too, together with a smash and seize at St James’ Park final season when Darwin Núñez netted twice late on to stun the hosts. They had been outplayed at Anfield final month.
Liverpool discover methods to keep away from defeat towards the Magpies. Newcastle discover methods to keep away from beating the Reds. Will it proceed?
Arne Slot versus Eddie Howe
Slot guided Feyenoord to their first KNVB Cup success since 2018 final season as they beat NEC 1-0 within the ultimate. The Rotterdam-based membership gained the Eredivisie the season prior.
The Dutch tactician is aware of what it takes to win and that information, perception, and profitable mentality may be huge in these fixtures.
Howe, in the meantime, has been on this kind of high-pressure scenario on only one different event throughout his managerial profession. He guided Newcastle to the Carabao Cup ultimate in the course of the 2022/23 marketing campaign, shedding 2-0 to Manchester United within the ultimate.
The Magpies additionally completed backside of their Champions League group final season. It isn’t a dig at Howe both. He’s simply not accomplished exceptionally nicely in these massive moments as supervisor of the North East membership. Once more, this may very well be a sticking level on Sunday.
How are the squads trying?
Liverpool are nonetheless with out defensive duo Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez. Ibrahima Konaté and Trent Alexander-Arnold hobbled off towards PSG in midweek and will miss the sport. This implies Jarell Quansah will seemingly begin at right-back with Wataru Endo at centre-back.
Howe is with out the suspended Anthony Gordon whereas Lewis Corridor and Sven Botman miss out with accidents. It means three of his finest XI are lacking for the ultimate. They’re additionally with out captain Jamal Lascelles.
Prediction
It’ll be a good recreation however Liverpool ought to have the expertise, in addition to the squad depth, to recover from the road right here and ship Slot’s first piece of silverware as supervisor. We’re going with a 2-1 win for the Reds.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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