Newcastle United have a date with destiny when they meet Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final as they aim to finally win a trophy and avenge their Wembley defeat of two years ago.
It’s now two years to the day when Newcastle United’s dreams of winning a trophy for the first time since 1955 were destroyed by Manchester United.
Eddie Howe’s side failed to turn up at Wembley and lost 2-0 in a heartbreaking defeat but they will soon have the chance to make amends.
Newcastle will take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on March 16, with the Premier League leaders standing in their way of making history.
The Magpies looked daunted by the occasion in 2023 but should be able to cope better this time around thanks to the experience and that’s not the only way the team has grown since.
Here are five ways Howe has improved his squad which could see Newcastle finally leave London with the Carabao Cup.
No Loris Karius this time
Newcastle were hamstrung before the final even kicked off two years ago as a cruel twist of fate meant they had to play fourth-choice goalkeeper Loris Karius.
Nick Pope was suspended for the match after being sent off for a bizarre handball outside the area against Liverpool and Martin Dubravka was cup-tied having played for none other than opponents Manchester United during his loan spell earlier that season.
With Karl Darlow being allowed to leave in January, that left only Karius, who came in to make his Newcastle debut on the biggest stage possible.
The German’s career had gone into a tailspin after his disastrous performance in the 2018 Champions League final with Liverpool and confidence in him wasn’t high among fans.
Though Karius put in a respectable performance with some smart saves, he should have done better for Marcus Rashford’s decisive goal.
Touch wood, Newcastle will have no such goalkeeping woes this time around as Pope is fit again after some injury trouble and Dubravka is enjoying a fine season. The Serbian will be desperate to play in this year’s final and should get the nod.
Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento at full-back
While only three players in the last final’s starting XI are no longer with the club, Newcastle have upgraded in several positions. The flanks especially.
That starts at full-back, with Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall now the first choice on either side rather than Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn.
Trippier proved his experience still has worth with his role in the Arsenal win and Burn is shining at centre-back, but the pacey duo of Hall and Livramento offer so much more.
Newcastle are more dynamic with two high-flying full-backs. They have good relationships with the wingers ahead of them and allow the side to counter-attack with speed and stretch defences.
Particularly influential is Hall, who was involved in all four goals in his sensational display vs Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
With Burn and Fabian Schar in the middle, Newcastle have a much faster, solid and quality defence ahead of this year’s final.
The signing of Sandro Tonali
Providing Joelinton recovers from injury in time, 2/3s of Newcastle’s midfield will be the same as it was in 2023 with fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes alongside him.
However, the big difference this time around is that Sandro Tonali will almost certainly start the match rather than Sean Longstaff.
After Tonali’s lengthy suspension derailed his first season in the North East, the Italian has finally found his feet in recent months and is flourishing at the base of the midfield three.
The switch to a more defensive role coincided with the side’s up-turn in form, as he is much better at protecting the defence, winning the ball deep and then carrying it forward, while Guimaraes has benefitted from being in a more advanced position.
Newcastle have a combative and classy midfield that is more than capable of going toe to toe with Liverpool.
Alexander Isak leading the line
The biggest and most effective difference between Newcastle two years ago and now is Alexander Isak.
The striker has been in simply sensational form this season and one of, if not the, most thrilling player to watch in the entire Premier League.
Not only is he a frequent source of goals – with 21 to his name already – but he is a true focal point and complete striker who is always involved in exciting play.
Whether he is running the channels, turning centre-backs, linking with wingers or sending players through on goal with great passes, Isak is the star this team revolves around and everyone benefits.
Isak has already had Virgil van Dijk on toast once this season – perhaps the only striker to do so – in the dramatic 3-3 draw in December and who says he can’t do it again at Wembley?
Much better wingers
While Newcastle fans will always love Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin, the side has much better wingers at its disposal now.
Saint-Maximin actually had a great moment in the last final when he sent Diogo Dalot for a hotdog and came close to scoring but Anthony Gordon has proven himself just as exciting and much more clinical.
On the other flank, Jacob Murphy came off the bench against United but will surely start this time after his remarkable improvement. He has six goals and eight assists to his name and is a constant threat to defenders.
If Liverpool have a weakness it’s at full-back and Newcastle have just the tools to exploit it.
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