The contrast between me and the pretend scousers will be immeasurable | OneFootball

A common question on exam papers starts with the line ‘compare and contrast”, for example,  in relation to the origins of the First World War or characters in a Shakespeare play.

As Newcastle United fans, we have had two years now between League Cup finals.

Time to compare and contrast our two different scenarios.

Two years ago we were in our first final at Wembley for more than twenty years.

Back in 2023 I was convinced we were going to win.

Heart ruling the head.

My twelve year old son was far more pessimistic, stating we had probably a 20% chance of winning, detailing stats to back up his point of view.

Of course, we were without our first choice goalkeeper thanks to a sending off against Liverpool in the league and this time around, we will be without our talented Scouse forward, thanks to another stupid red card.

After avoiding relegation and establishing ourselves in a creditable league position against all the odds. In that 2022/23 season Eddie Howe appeared to have created a winning formula, hence my optimism pre-final back then.

The team was little changed to now, though with Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron starting.

The opposition was not the Man U of old, though still with many talents in their team. Marcus Rashford and Casemiro doing the first half damage.

In comparison, this Liverpool team who we face on Sunday, are steamrollering the Premier League, have talent in abundance. A bad day at Argyle and unedifying scenes at Goodison, are blips on their domestic season and their march to the title. Though not with aspirations any longer in the Champions League…

Another successful season for them then, which should begin with the first silverware of the League Cup heading their way. Or so everyone in the media thinks.

Liverpool are a completely different opposition compared to the Man U of two years ago. A Man U team that was fighting for a Champions League spot with us.

However, players playing for a club who are in the habit of winning trophies.

And there you have it. In contrast to two years ago I do not expect us to win the League Cup.

I do not have a ticket for the Carabao Cup Final but intend to watch it at the weekend with my daft teenage lad in a bar in Soho.

No doubt I’ll be confronted by “Liverpool supporters” who have never been to a game but love “their” club and will be ecstatic when they win again.

The contrast between me and the pretend scousers will be immeasurable, should we beat them, there will be no comparison in the elation between me and them.

Having said all this, I expect me and my lad will be heading home on the Clapham omnibus shaking our heads and saying how did that happen?