[League Cup Final] Newcastle United Vs. Liverpool - 16/03/25 @ 16:30 (Live on ITV & Sky)

[Lush Vlad]

5 at the back against Liverpool won’t work. They’ll just dominate the ball even more, overrun our central midfield even more and we’ll just be sat there dying a slow death. 
 

It wasn’t that long ago we gave them a hell of a game at SJP and were probably unlucky to draw in the end. Albeit with a couple of players missing this time. 
 

Also not sure it’s wise when we only have 2 out and out CB’s in the squad and our starting LB/LWB is out. 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 20:05 by Lush Vlad

[ramirez]

26 minutes ago, Hovagod said:

Would have said we have way more chance in this one than in the 90s two

The first final I recall we weren’t out of the woods of relegation danger until fairly later on in season til we hammered Barnsley. We are relatively better than we were for both of those and again playing league winners by the look of it. 

[Superior Acuña]

1 hour ago, Hovagod said:

Would have said we have way more chance in this one than in the 90s two

Oh definitely agree.

Liverpool are heavy favourites but we’re a good side and people wouldn’t be really that surprised if we won. We were shit then and both our opponents were class, would’ve def been bigger upsets.!

[et tu brute]

We need to preform like we did in the first half of the home game (we totally controlled it) and cut out the stupid errors where we gifted them goals in the second half and the away game.
 

Our midfield I still say is a match for the Liverpool midfield, but our three need to improve by a fair bit, their current form. Isak , like Arsenal's pairing, has the Liverpool pairing full of nerves when he plays against them. Even in the away game Wilson had to big chances where he fucked up both. Gordon missing is a big miss mind as the size of the Wembley pitch gives wingers as massive opportunity 

 

The big worry is the defence, as we have two centre half's out of form and a big liability with their passing. An aging right back, who although one of the best to play for us, is now so error prone and costing us goals quite regularly. Livermento has actually looked decent when he has played left back, and I would argue gets forward more when he plays there. 
 

The midfield three I believe are the key to whether we win or not. Those three playing their best and I really think we can. Obviously the centre half's have to. Improve also. The press has to be there also, as from the Bournemouth game, we have totally looked like a team of kittens waking to be tickled. If you allow decent teams time and space on the ball, they're going to put you in the back foot and in all probability, win the game. Our out ball and control of the ball has to be better than it has recently, a lot better

[Superior Acuña]

Tripod looked good again in the semi, we need that version. 

[500bhp]

17 minutes ago, et tu brute said:

We need to preform like we did in the first half of the home game (we totally controlled it) and cut out the stupid errors where we gifted them goals in the second half and the away game.
 

Our midfield I still say is a match for the Liverpool midfield, but our three need to improve by a fair bit, their current form. Isak , like Arsenal's pairing, has the Liverpool pairing full of nerves when he plays against them. Even in the away game Wilson had to big chances where he fucked up both. Gordon missing is a big miss mind as the size of the Wembley pitch gives wingers as massive opportunity 

 

The big worry is the defence, as we have two centre half's out of form and a big liability with their passing. An aging right back, who although one of the best to play for us, is now so error prone and costing us goals quite regularly. Livermento has actually looked decent when he has played left back, and I would argue gets forward more when he plays there. 
 

The midfield three I believe are the key to whether we win or not. Those three playing their best and I really think we can. Obviously the centre half's have to. Improve also. The press has to be there also, as from the Bournemouth game, we have totally looked like a team of kittens waking to be tickled. If you allow decent teams time and space on the ball, they're going to put you in the back foot and in all probability, win the game. Our out ball and control of the ball has to be better than it has recently, a lot better

.....as the size of the Wembley pitch gives wingers as massive opportunity....

 

A lot of people make this mistake. SJP and Wembley pitches are the same size.  

 

[et tu brute]

9 minutes ago, 500bhp said:

.....as the size of the Wembley pitch gives wingers as massive opportunity....

 

A lot of people make this mistake. SJP and Wembley pitches are the same size.  

 

Must admit I didn't know that, thanks for correcting me

[Skeletor]

The Gordon red card has just knocked the hope out of me. Everything seems to be going the same way it did 2 years ago. Key player suspended, loss of form, players seemingly playing within themselves leading up to the final. And we're playing the run away league winners.

[huss9]

9 minutes ago, Skeletor said:

The Gordon red card has just knocked the hope out of me. Everything seems to be going the same way it did 2 years ago. Key player suspended, loss of form, players seemingly playing within themselves leading up to the final. And we're playing the run away league winners.

an in form Gordon would have been more of a miss.

[Decky]

Anything can happen in a final. As long as we've Isak, Bruno and Tonali we've a chance. Keep the defence tight and get the ball into Isak as much as we can. 

[et tu brute]

3 hours ago, Decky said:

Anything can happen in a final. As long as we've Isak, Bruno and Tonali we've a chance. Keep the defence tight and get the ball into Isak as much as we can. 

A not match fit Wilson should have had two goals, so we can definitely cause problems and Isak has a good record against them. Midfield is paramount all three have to be at there best on the day.
 

My big concern (as will be everyones) is the defence (especially centre half), we have to ensure that the midfield are given accurate balls from the back. We can't have either Bruno or Tonali keep dropping too deep to get the ball, as teams have cottoned on and are straight onto them.

 

This is happening though, because Burn struggles to pass the ball more than 10 yards and Schar who was very good at playing out, looks like he struggles to kick a football full stop currently. Trippier gives the ball away too frequently also and we will miss Hall and Botman badly, with these being our accurate output to our midfield higher up the field.
 

Liverpool have the tools in their defence to bypass our midfield with one pass (most teams do currently), whereas we consistently give up possession within a few passes. Just got to hope Schar, Trippier (especially) and Livermento can find their passing boots on the day. Burn needs to just feed those three and cut out trying to play the ball forward and thinking he's suddenly turned into Beckenbauer.

 

If we ensure we have a consistent press (totally missing recently) to ensure that Liverpool haven't got time and space to play through us; and ensure that our midfield are fed the ball in more forward positions, then we have a chance. If we don't, then it will be the usual comfortable cup final defeat. We need a repeat of the first half home performance for as much of the 90 minutes as possible. Bruno has to be in the 8 position also. 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 04:27 by et tu brute

[Whitley mag]

The only chance we have is if the games all of a sudden catch up with Liverpool, extra time against PSG would be welcome. 
 

We would need Isak to produce something spectacular, not impossible but just can’t see our back 4 being up to the job unfortunately.

 

Where riddled with individual errors and they will just have to much for us.

[et tu brute]

11 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

The only chance we have is if the games all of a sudden catch up with Liverpool, extra time against PSG would be welcome. 
 

We would need Isak to produce something spectacular, not impossible but just can’t see our back 4 being up to the job unfortunately.

 

Where riddled with individual errors and they will just have to much for us.

Aye I agree the back four are just not up to the job and I just can't see Liverpool not taking advantage of that. It would have been better if the cup final was this weekend as they may have taken a few key players out due to the second leg of the champions league being all to play for 

[Sibierski]

8 hours ago, 500bhp said:

.....as the size of the Wembley pitch gives wingers as massive opportunity....

 

A lot of people make this mistake. SJP and Wembley pitches are the same size.  

 

Same size, but by nature of the stadiums, it’s psychologically feels bigger. 

[Groundhog63]

[patrone]

Been "gifted" two seats in Sponsor/Corporate hospitality area, to say I'm buzzing is a massive understatement.

 

Even the bed wetting negativity on here cant bring me back down

 

🍻🍻🍻

 

 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:24 by patrone

[NotRich]

Dúbravka

Trippier Schär Burn Livramento

Guimarães Tonali Willock

Murphy Isak Joelinton

 

There's enough physicality and quality here to cause them problems.

[Magpie]

Anyone know anyone who managed to get in on aconcession ticket last time???? Asking for a friend 🥴

[Geogaddi]

2 minutes ago, Magpie said:

Anyone know anyone who managed to get in on aconcession ticket last time???? Asking for a friend 🥴

Lad I know did , he only did it because he was offered a last minute ticket but it was a concession. It's was easily done they didn't even check the ticket.

[Joelinton7]

It’s good that we’re underdogs going into this. Historicallly, under Eddie, it’s when we’ve performed best. Just rather not be underdogs with our entire left side and thus main supply to Isak missing. 

[Kilcline]

32 minutes ago, patrone said:

Been "gifted" two seats in Sponsor/Corporate hospitality area, to say I'm buzzing is a massive understatement.

 

Even the bed wetting negativity on here cant bring me back down

 

🍻🍻🍻

 

 

 

 

 

Nice one, waiting for my sponsors tickets to arrive and got a bit excited when the postman came with an envelope of tickets this morning only to open them and they were my England ones for the following weekend 😅🤦

[AyeDubbleYoo]

39 minutes ago, patrone said:

Been "gifted" two seats in Sponsor/Corporate hospitality area, to say I'm buzzing is a massive understatement.

 

Even the bed wetting negativity on here cant bring me back down

 

🍻🍻🍻

 

 

I’d definitely be more excited if someone gave me free tickets. 

[patrone]

14 minutes ago, Kilcline said:

Nice one, waiting for my sponsors tickets to arrive and got a bit excited when the postman came with an envelope of tickets this morning only to open them and they were my England ones for the following weekend 😅🤦

Neutral area, no replica shirts is all the info I was given so far

 

 

[Decky]

Tonali in the number 6 role will be huge in this. Fucking dreading West Ham on Monday for fear of someone else getting injured.  

[Kilcline]

3 minutes ago, patrone said:

Neutral area, no replica shirts is all the info I was given so far

 

 

Mine are in our end so not sure how it works with different sponsors/partners. Place that's got them was able to buy 25 and could choose either end. Multiply that by the number of companies with that deal and others who get them handed out and its easy to see why it's 31-32k general allocations for a 90k stadium!