Newcastle United look set to be without Anthony Gordon for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
The 24-year-old was sent off as Newcastle lost to Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday, with the Toon Army enduring a miserable afternoon at St James’ Park.
Unless the Magpies successfully appeal the decision, Anthony Gordon will miss Newcastle’s next three games. That includes the showpiece event at Wembley, with Gordon due to miss a second final after being cup-tied in 2023.
It is a devastating blow for Newcastle United, who are on course to be without one of their best players. Eddie Howe wants fans to support Gordon, two years after Nick Pope suffered the same fate.
The Magpies have self-destructed once again, but this time there are better alternatives.
Who should replace Anthony Gordon for Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final
In 2023, Newcastle had to replace Pope with Loris Karius, who was making his Newcastle United debut.
In 2025, Howe at least has a couple of options to replace Anthony Gordon.
The like-for-like change would see Harvey Barnes play on the left wing. After all, he is Gordon’s deputy on that flank, despite starting Sunday’s defeat to Brighton on the right.
However, the real player who Howe should replace Gordon with his Joelinton.
The decision would see Newcastle revert to a tactic that they relied on heavily in the 2022/23 season. Joelinton would play on the left wing and Joe Willock would be the left-sided centre-midfielder, with the pair dovetailing brilliantly down that side of the pitch.
That has to be the way that Howe approaches this game against Liverpool. That will make the Magpies more solid, down the side of the pitch where they will be tasked with keeping Mo Salah quiet.
Lewis Hall did well against Salah at Anfield, but will need even more help at Wembley – assuming he is fit to start amid his injury issue.
A combination of Joelinton and Willock on the left will give more protection. In contrast, Barnes does not appear to have the full trust of Howe. While he can produce moments of magic, Howe needs someone who he can rely on for 90 minutes – or perhaps more.
Barnes can be a game-changer off the bench, but it would be a huge surprise if he got the nod to start at Wembley following Gordon’s moment of madness.
The old Newcastle United tactic that Eddie Howe has not been able to use
Interestingly, the tactic that Howe could now use in the 2025 Carabao Cup final was not used in the 2023 Carabao Cup final.
That was down to injury, with Willock only fit enough to start on the bench against Manchester United. Instead, Joelinton played centrally and Allan Saint-Maximin was on the left of attack.
Had Willock been fully fit, you would imagine that Howe would have deployed the Joelinton/Willock combo against Erik ten Hag’s side.
Now he could do that in 2025, as Howe gets set to lean on a tactic that he was rarely able to utilise last season.
In April 2024 after Joelinton signed a new contract, it was reported by the Athletic that Howe believes the 28-year-old offers ‘greater physicality and balance’ when Newcastle play away from home. The report added that Howe had intended to use Joelinton more as a winger during the 2023/24 season, but was not able to due to injury and suspension.
With Newcastle set to go into the 2025 Carabao Cup final as underdogs, Howe will surely pick Joelinton to give his side that physicality and balance.
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