Newcastle United have received a potential Carabao Cup final boost with Liverpool handed a tricky Champions League schedule.
The Reds’ boss Arne Slot has recently praised his squad’s physical capabilities over a period where fixtures have come thick and fast – and his side will have to be at the races twice in a matter of days if they are to keep their treble hopes alive and beat Eddie Howe’s Mags.
We have Monday Night Football against West Ham in our last game ahead of the final on March 16, but Liverpool will have a major European side to beat just a few days before our showdown at Wembley.
Liverpool handed tough draw before cup final
Liverpool have been drawn against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the second leg set to take place at Anfield on either March 11 or March 12; the same week as the Carabao Cup final.
Despite being dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of Plymouth, Liverpool will still have five games between now and the final to our four. They start with City away this Sunday before we make the journey to Anfield, while their two games with PSG are sandwiched either side of Southampton at home in the league.
Ahead of our trips to Anfield and the London Stadium, we must first get past Nottingham Forest this Sunday in the league, and Brighton in the FA Cup next weekend.
Slot’s comments in his press conference yesterday show his faith in his squad ahead of the busy period, but the fact they have such a tough Champions League tie just before the cup final increases their chances of fatigue and potential injuries.
Coady Gakpo is currently nursing an injury and, after recently managing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s comeback from a knock, they saw fellow right-back Connor Bradley hobble off during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.
Toon face West Ham on Monday
Newcastle must build momentum coming into the cup final and try to put the occasion behind them, with several important games to come before next month’s final.
After upcoming games against Forest, Liverpool and Brighton, we play West Ham in London at the start of final week, with the game selected for Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
Both sides’ form has been poor in recent weeks. That could change by March 10, but Newcastle will want to make amends for that poor performance in the reverse fixture at St. James’ Park in November.
Hopefully Sunday is the start of our league form returning and we get back to our best in the build up to March 16th.
