The Carabao Cup final is going to be difficult for Newcastle United.
As if that wasn’t already obvious enough, it was brought into sharp focus for Newcastle United fans on Wednesday night.
Indeed, Newcastle lost 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League without laying much of a glove on Arne Slot’s side.
Eddie Howe’s team did not even muster a shot on target, albeit Callum Wilson really should have done better when racing through while the score was just 1-0.
If Newcastle are going to win the Carabao Cup final, they need to get over this inferiority complex they appear to have when playing big teams away from St James’ Park.
That’s easier said than done of course and losing to this Liverpool side would hardly be an embarrassment, but it would be nice to see more belief in these games when they are not on Tyneside.
That feels like the next big step of the club’s development, albeit little about Wednesday night would suggest Newcastle can beat this Liverpool team at Wembley.
Rafa Benitez – who knows a thing or two about both clubs – was on punditry duty for TNT Sports and was asked about his thoughts on next month’s meeting.
Rafa Benitez responds when asked if Newcastle can win Carabao Cup final
It’s of course worth remembering that Benitez is a Liverpool legend, so was always likely to be diplomatic in any answer.
While the Spaniard did not provide an outright answer, he did suggest that having the likes of Alexander Isak – who missed Wednesday’s game with a thigh injury – could make a difference at Wembley.
“I have been talking with some Geordie fans and friends and they are desperate to win a trophy,” he told TNT Sports.
“Just the desire that they have. I could see with the substitutions at the end, everybody even in the back of the head are thinking about that (the final) instead of this game.
“Eddie was talking about that they competed in both games, I don’t agree too much in this one. I think that they have the belief that they can do it, and if they have these players coming back then yes I believe they can be more dangerous. If they have the chances that Wilson had today maybe with Isak today.”
Newcastle need Alexander Isak back for the Carabao Cup final
Based on Wednesday’s game, it’s hard to see Newcastle beating Liverpool at Wembley. If they head there without Isak, Slot’s side will already have one hand on the trophy.
Liverpool fans were delighted Isak missed the game, with Wilson just not looking his former self after so long out of action.
Benitez is right, Newcastle can be more dangerous with their best players fit. That is hardly a ringing endorsement of the supporting cast, however.
Newcastle fans will no doubt head to Wembley full of optimism. Quite how much that will be based in realism or not solely depends on Isak’s fitness.
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