David Moyes has already told Eddie Howe his ‘excellent’ solution to Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon crisis at Newcastle

Add as preferred source on Google

Eddie Howe has plenty of problems to solve before Newcastle United face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

It has been a disastrous week for Newcastle United. With just 11 days to go until the biggest game of the season at Wembley, everything is beginning to go wrong.

• When is the Carabao Cup final 2025? Date, kick-off time confirmed and prize money as Newcastle United play Liverpool

Anthony Gordon will miss the Carabao Cup final after picking up a red card against Brighton in the FA Cup. Any hope of it being overturned has now disappeared with Newcastle confirming they won’t appeal Gordon’s suspension.

To make matters worse, Newcastle crashed out of the FA Cup, meaning any hope of winning silverware lies on this month’s trip to Wembley.

But Howe will travel to the capital with an extremely weakened squad. Lewis Hall is out for the season after sustaining an ankle injury. Newcastle will have to cope against Mohamed Salah without their star left-back.

David Moyes offers Eddie Howe a solution

Back in November, Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0 in the Premier League – the first of three victories over the Gunners this season.

David Moyes hailed two ‘excellent’ Newcastle players after the Arsenal win, suggesting that they had built up a wonderful partnership.

The two players in question were Joelinton and Joe Willock. Moyes said: “We played them last season and the Joe Willock and Joelinton combination down the side was so good. 

“I saw yesterday that their form on the left-hand side was excellent as well. I think the way Newcastle have played in the last year or two has been so, so good.”

Eddie Howe could repeat Joelinton and Joe Willock trick

Either side of the Arsenal win, Newcastle beat Chelsea and Nottingham Forest – who were in the Premier League’s top four at the time.

In all three of those wins, Howe played Joelinton out wide on the left with Willock playing on the left side of a midfield three.

READ MORE: Eddie Howe’s record vs Liverpool will worry Newcastle United fans ahead of Carabao Cup final

This was Howe’s lineup for the 1-0 win over Arsenal, with Joelinton and Willock on the left. It was a system that was capable of defending resiliently and causing upsets against big teams.

That is exactly what Howe has to do at Wembley later this month.