On Sunday, Newcastle United will have the chance to terminate one of the longest trophy drugs in the Premier League opposite Liverpool in Wembley for the EFL Cup title Paramount+ (with a bonus star cam on CBS Sports Golazo Network). The magpies have not won a trophy since 1955 and have come close to Eddie Howe who loses this trophy to Manchester United in 2023. If this time they want to end that drought, they should not only overthrow Liverpool to do it, but Newcastle will also have to do it without their entire left side.
Both players have been crucial to push Newcastle forward this season, where Gordon scored nine goals and assists six more in all competitions, while Hall is jointly created among all defenders in the Premier League with 34 opportunities directly behind Fulham Left Back and the National Team Antone States. Gordon was suspended for picking up a red card in the FA Cup for pushing Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke to the ground and Hall has now undergone an operation after a season that has ended the foot injury while looking at Liverpool.
Gordon is expected to be replaced by Harvey Barnes in the XI and although Barnes is a very capable winger, he brings a different style to the attack than Gordon.
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Gordon is well completed and becomes just as involved in build -up game and defensive urgent as shooting while Barnes is first a shoot, ask questions later type of wing player. Both have their advantages, but this means that Howe must be wary if his fullback overlaps each other, especially with the threat of Mohamed Salah that strives behind him, is there. Newcastle has seen Nuno Mendes handle the Egyptian in Champions League play for Paris Saint-Germain, but without Hall they have no like-for-like replacement to try that.
Valentino Livramento is already a natural back that can be shifted to the left for this competition, where the balance on the side has already changed. It is more difficult to get ahead when not in a natural position, and because Joelinton may have to offer help to that side, Newcastle will not be able to switch forward as quickly if they want to take advantage of the space that Liverpool can offer.
There are a few things in favor of the Magpies, given that Liverpool played high-pressure football for 120 minutes in the Champions League before he was eliminated by PSG, and even without Trent Alexander-Arnold for the game after he had been withdrawn from UCL game. After he had been to this phase before, Howe will know that a Missstep Newcastle could cost the competition, but it must also ensure that he is not too complicated.
The Magpies recently faced Liverpool at the end of February, who took only three shots and did not put it on the goal. Alexander Isak did not play then, so Newcastle will have it. Better chance of testing Alisson in the net, but without comprehending Salah, not much that Newcastle matters in attack. The Egyptian now has 32 goals and 22 assists in all competitions and he will attract attention.
The midfield trio of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes will have to shine the brightest to bring glory to Newcastle. Without broad players to play, they must try to go into the heart of the defense of Liverpool. A talented trio in the middle, Newcastle can do that, given the different skills of every midfielder and their skills to shoot from outside the box, but winning the midfield struggle against Liverpool is a considerable task. There is a reason why the Reds are 15 points on top of the Premier League, but they have not been an infallible side this season. The midfield of Newcastle can let magic happen and Wembley is just the place for it.
How to look and opportunities
- Date: Sunday March 16 | Time: 12.30 pm et
- Location: Wembley – London
- TV: CBS Sports Golazo | Live stream: Paramount+
- Chances: Liverpool -170; Sign +200; Newcastle United +400