Newcastle United positives for Carabao Cup Final against Liverpool | OneFootball

I sense the mood is a ‘little’ low for many Newcastle United fans ahead of the Carabao Cup Final.

That game at Wembley in 11 days time seemingly seen as the darkest of clouds gathering on the horizon.

Rather than Newcastle United fans relishing the idea of meeting Liverpool in this Carabao Cup Final.

I know that on the day of the final itself, the Newcastle supporters inside the stadium will be well up for it, pre-match refreshments a valuable help.

However, in the meantime, I have came up with a few positives to help any Newcastle United fans struggling to cope ahead of Sunday 16 March 2025.

Positives for Newcastle United fans to embrace as we look forward to the Carabao Cup Final:

The best striker in the Premier League will be playing in this Carabao Cup Final, you might have heard of him. Alexander Isak is the name.

Only two clubs can still win the 2025 Carabao Cup, Newcastle United are one of the two.

Zero chance at Wembley you say? Well, for an independent view on it all, the bookies are always the ones worth looking at. They are only interested in making money, so when they price up the chance of something happening, or not, emotion or bias doesn’t come into it. The best odds you can get on Newcastle lifting the trophy are 11/4, which means they see Newcastle United having better than a one in four chance of winning the Carabao Cup Final, or more precisely a four in fifteen chance.

Liverpool aren’t unbeatable, they have already lost this season to Forest, Plymouth, PSV and Tottenham. They have also drawn seven Premier League matches, including the embarrassment of drawing at home to Man U!

I am gutted that Lewis Hall won’t be available to play, but Tino Livramento reminded us once again on Sunday just how well he can play on the left, seemingly now set to face Mo Salah at Wembley. Back in November 2023, I remember Tino playing a blinder on the left in Paris, including against Mbappe, Livramento selected ahead of Lewis Hall that night to play left-back. Tino and Newcastle cheated out of a win that night with a shocking late penalty decision.

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Speaking of PSG. In both of the Champions League matches against them Kieran Trippier was outstanding against Mbappe and the rest of them, proving yet again just what a big game player he can be. He gave yet another reminder just a month ago when he was outstanding against Arsenal in the game that took Newcastle United to Wembley. For what it’s worth, I thought Trippier was probably our best player against Brighton on Sunday.

Speaking of PSG again. In these two weeks leading up to the Carabao Cup Final, Newcastle United just have the one game, at West Ham in the Premier League. For Liverpool, they have two two very tough Champions League matches against a PSG side who have lost none of their 29 domestic matches this season and who have win all their last five Champions League matches. A lot can happen between now and Wembley and bad things can happen for Liverpool as well as Newcastle United. Injuries to key players in their two huge matches are more than a possibility, whilst with Liverpool having already effectively won the Premier League, if they go out of the Champions League next Tuesday night they will be absolutely devastated. Here’s hoping.

Not so long ago I’m sure I can remember more than a few Newcastle United fans and indeed outsiders, talking about NUFC having the best midfield trio in the Premier League. Joelinton has been injured and Bruno Guimaraes a bit of a recent dip in form, however, I think every chance that along with Sandro Tonali, they will be turning up at Wembley absolutely believing they can be key to a Newcastle United trophy win.

Newcastle United will be the underdog at Wembley but they certainly won’t be the first one to turn up at a cup final and overturn the odds against them. Only last May we saw Man U beat all conquering Man City in the FA Cup Final. Whilst in other cup finals of recent times, Birmingham defeated Arsenal, Leicester beat Chelsea, Wigan won against Man City and so on.

This season we have seen Newcastle United win nine games in a row, that run included three away wins on the trot against Man U, Tottenham and Arsenal. In recent seasons under Eddie Howe, Newcastle have had numerous victories over the ‘big six’ clubs, whilst this season already, United have defeated the side currently second (Arsenal) in the Premier League three times, as well as defeating the team third (Forest) in the table three times. Newcastle United have already won 21 domestic (Premier League and Cups) matches this season, more than every other Premier League side, apart from Liverpool. Newcastle United are a very good team who on their day are capable of playing to a very high standard.