Preview: Carabao Cup final – Liverpool’s experience vs Newcastle’s hunger | OneFootball

Liverpool vs Newcastle: Carabao Cup Final – Kick-off Time, Prediction, Team News and More

First silverware of the season up for grabs at Wembley

Liverpool and Newcastle will contest the first major trophy of the English football season on Sunday, with the Carabao Cup final set to provide another chapter in their evolving rivalry.

For Liverpool, the equation is simple: win, and Arne Slot lifts his first piece of silverware as Reds boss. Lose and questions will inevitably be asked about whether the Dutchman can replicate the relentless trophy-winning culture his predecessor built. It is the kind of early-season litmus test that managers either breeze past or agonise over long after the medals have been handed out.

Photo: IMAGO

For Newcastle, it is a chance at something far more elusive: the club’s first domestic trophy since 1955. Eddie Howe’s side has come close before, but that’s the thing about “close” in elite sport – it doesn’t show up in the record books. Beaten finalists last season, the Toon Army will demand more this time.

Photo IMAGO

Date, Kick-off Time and How to Watch

The final takes place on Sunday, 16 March 2025, with kick-off set for 4.30pm GMT at Wembley Stadium in London.

Where to Watch

Liverpool and Newcastle’s Routes to the Final

Liverpool’s journey to Wembley has been defined by Slot’s attempt to forge his own identity while maintaining the club’s high standards. Their Champions League exit at the hands of PSG earlier this week was a reminder that European dominance won’t be built overnight. A Carabao Cup triumph would be a welcome step forward, a tangible sign of progress in the post-Klopp era.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have overcome their own hurdles. Their path to Wembley included a semi-final victory over Arsenal across two legs – a statement performance that showcased their growing maturity. This is their second consecutive appearance in the final, and after last year’s disappointment against Manchester United, there is a quiet desperation to ensure they do not leave empty-handed again.

Team News and Injury Concerns

Both sides come into the final with defensive worries.

Both managers will be forced into adjustments, but Liverpool’s squad depth gives them a clear advantage.

Prediction: Who Lifts the Trophy?

Last season, Liverpool’s young, injury-hit squad defied the odds to win this competition, edging past Chelsea in the final. The expectation is that they can do it again, but this time under different leadership.

Slot’s Liverpool have yet to contest a final together, a factor that Newcastle will no doubt take confidence from. But the reality remains that Liverpool’s experience in these situations – from big-game players to institutional know-how – gives them the edge.

Newcastle are more accustomed to high-stakes matches now, but whether that is enough to overcome a Liverpool team with its eyes on silverware is another matter entirely.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle