Chris Sutton is concerned about Newcastle United’s record versus Liverpool ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
The Magpies will face the Reds at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, with Eddie Howe and Arne Slot preparing to compete for the season’s first trophy.
Newcastle United can break their trophy drought, and Liverpool can win their first prize since Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
It should be an exciting game, but Liverpool are the clear favourites. After all, they’re flying under Slot, and the Premier League title appears to be on its way to Anfield.
Furthermore, Eddie Howe’s record versus Liverpool is not particularly impressive. He has only beaten them once in his managerial career, at Bournemouth.
Howe has never beaten Liverpool at Newcastle. History is against him as he seeks to end his preoccupation with winning titles as Newcastle United manager.
Chris Sutton predicts Newcastle versus Liverpool.
However, Chris Sutton told BBC Sport that he believes the Magpies’ trophy drought will continue.
The former Blackburn Rovers player predicts that Liverpool will defeat Newcastle United in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
“We all know how much it would mean for Newcastle to end their long wait for a major trophy, but they have not beaten Liverpool since December 2015, a run of 17 games,” he told reporters.
“When you consider the Magpies are without Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon – their entire first-choice on the left flank – I really don’t see that run ending at Wembley.
“I am expecting Tino Livramento to replace Hall and try to stop Mohamed Salah. Livramento is mobile and quick, but I don’t think he will keep Salah quiet all game.
“It won’t be easy for Liverpool, though. They are without Trent Alexander-Arnold and, with Conor Bradley likely to be sidelined too, they will need to find someone to fill in at right-back.
“The midfield battle will be key, because Newcastle are very good in that area, especially now Joelinton is back alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, but it is one of Liverpool’s strengths too.
“Arne Slot’s biggest concern is how the Reds would react to the disappointment of being eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, but I don’t see them suffering from that shootout loss.
“My gut feeling is that we will see a few goals, and Liverpool will win in 90 minutes.”
Sutton’s prediction: Newcastle United 2, Liverpool 3.
Injuries and history versus Newcastle United
Newcastle United is considered the underdog for a variety of reasons.
The biggest reason is that they haven’t won a trophy since 1969. And in order to win on Sunday, they must defeat Liverpool, a team with a dismal record against them.
Newcastle United would have a better chance if they entered the game with a full roster, but that is not the case.
Anthony Gordon is suspended, and Lewis Hall is injured. If both players had been available, they would have started at Wembley.
Sven Botman is also out of action, dealing Howe another blow.
But Newcastle has a lot of talent, and there is still optimism that they can defeat Liverpool.
Newcastle fans will not go to Wembley with a defeatist attitude. They are heading there to win, as Eddie Howe and his men have a new opportunity to immortalize themselves on Tyneside.
