This is it. The cup final weekend and a chance for Eddie Howe’s Mags to make history after 70 years of hurt.
Liverpool stand in our way and it’ll be a huge task to overcome the current Premier League leaders, but we have to believe.
Monday’s win at West Ham injected some much needed momentum into the squad and fan base, while the Reds suffered a setback, losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to injury and a shootout to PSG in a Champions League exit at Anfield.
The build up seems different – more focus, less emotion – and the players will hopefully benefit from the lessons learned two years ago.
Every Mag inside Wembley must do their bit to be that 12th man. Mix that with a smart game plan and the sort of high intensity, brave and disciplined display we know this team is capable of and we’ve certainly got a chance, especially with the best striker in the country up top.
Howe’s pre-match comments
Howe on injuries and availability – “Lewis Hall and Sven Botman are recovering after their operations, Anthony is suspended, but apart from that we hope to have the full squad.”
Howe on our focus heading into the final – “We’ve had a really tough run in the Carabao Cup, we have gone from round to round. There has been a lot less noise and emotion and hopefully that helps us in our performance in our game. We have been very much focused on our game plan. We are very positive. Our destiny is in our own hands. It is about us delivering a great performance.”
Howe on team selection – “There are always decisions to make, that will be no different for this game. We don’t have a huge pool of players, we have a very tight squad, we are in a good place after the win on Monday night and that was a big thing for us. The players are in a good place. Everyone wants to play in these bigger games.”
Howe on Dan Burn’s England call-up – “Incredible moment for Dan, there is no one more deserving in my opinion. Such an inspiring guy and a talented player, it is a great football story, Dan has had to do it the hard way coming through the leagues. He is the model professional; he is so committed to what he does. His character is so stable and so level, I am so pleased for him on a personal level.”
Howe on the impact our fans can have – “They always are, we know from the last time we got to the final, the feeling of support and unity. We are absolutely going to need them; we need every bit of help we can to push ourselves over the line.”
Team news
Anthony Gordon is suspended and Lewis Hall and Sven Botman are ruled out. But it’s not all bad news; Alexander Isak is fit and Howe confirmed there are no new issues following Monday’s win at West Ham.
For Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold is out for Liverpool, with back up right-backs Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez also injured. Ibrahima Konate should be OK after fatigue forced him off on Tuesday.
Reports on Merseyside also suggest Slot could hand Caoimhin Kelleher another cup start, with the Dutchman deemed ‘likely’ to start the Irish No.2 ahead of Alisson.
Predicted line-up
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Barnes
Before Monday’s game I was unsure on who would start in goal and fancying Howe to opt for that left-sided combination of Joelinton and Joe Willock.
However, with Pope brought back into the side at West Ham, where he kept our first clean sheet in seven, and Harvey Barnes delivering a vital assist down the left, it feels like both are favourites to start the final.
It’s horses for courses and Howe may feel a different set up is needed against the totally different test that awaits against Liverpool, but this feels like Barnes’ chance to (hopefully) exploit a Liverpool side missing a natural right-back, while Pope’s sweeper-keeper qualities could be helpful behind two slow centre-backs.
The midfield picks itself – Joelinton’s battling qualities are needed in the middle of the park – and Livramento will come in at left-back in Hall’s absence, seeing Trippir come in at right-back.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher – Quansah, Konate, Van Dijk, Roberton – Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister – Salah, Diaz, Gakpo.
Match prediction
Call it blind faith or beer-fuelled optimism, I think this might just be our year based on the momentum gained over the past week, where we’ve come out of Monday’s win rejuvenated 24 hours before Liverpool’s disastrous Tuesday night.
Protecting our ageing defence will be key, as will Tino’s battle with Mo Salah, but I fancy us to win that midfield battle and we’ve always got a puncher’s chance with Isak up front.
We need to play our own game; be fearless, aggressive, clinical and organised. Feed off the crowd and come with that high-intensity, but keep our discipline and don’t allow emotions to bubble over on such a big stage.
“Our destiny is in our own hands”, Howe said. Let’s make history.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle
Pope a couple of seasons ago would have been nailed on, now he doesn’t inspire confidence.
The rest of the team apart from the absentees is as good as we’ve got.
A wing and a prayer for this one HWTL
Joseph(Quote)
Please, please, please, Olly, let your prediction, for once, be accurate. Every week I scoff at your ridiculous optimism. Today I am praying for you to be right.
Stranger things have happened. I’m not remotely excited for a bloody cup final yet I have a strange feeling about it…..
The Panther(Quote)
Same here, I have been a negative nellie but all of a sudden I feel different. I think we might just do it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem results went for us today. And if Arsenal beat Chelsea tomorrow we could go fourth if we win our game in hand.
I’m praying we can grab a historic win tomorrow. Travelling from Cape Town back up to Johannesburg tomorrow morning and should be able to watch the final. 🤞🤞🤞🤍🖤🤍🖤
Gilly Toon(Quote)
‘For once’. I’ve got the last few right…
Let me be optimistic! 😂
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Unchanged side. Pope in goal. 😬🤞
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Olly I’m with you mate. Today we win! 💪💪👍🤞
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well I have Lews lucky toon shirt on and I have asked him to have a word with the almighty.
Here’s hoping the lads bring the 🔥
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Agree, needs a good game today.
kimtoon(Quote)
Burnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
kimtoon(Quote)
Goooooooaaaaaaaaallllll BDB, get in, the lad from Blythe
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We are good value for the lead by far the better side. Need to keep up the intensity second half, none of that going into our shell bollocks because you can bet Pool will come out blazing and with a way to get salah on the ball more.
Isak looks a bit off it so far too, we need to be far more clinical with our chances too.
kimtoon(Quote)
Tino, and Barnes having a good game so far as our Sandro, Bruno and joe even Tripps is having a good game.
kimtoon(Quote)
are *
kimtoon(Quote)
***** off side
kimtoon(Quote)
Isakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
kimtoon(Quote)
MORE LADS MORE
kimtoon(Quote)
So far you have to say we deserve the win, please god don’t lose now lads.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well done Pope
kimtoon(Quote)
Bruno needs to stop being offside as well
kimtoon(Quote)
How did we not score there
kimtoon(Quote)
Should be 3
kimtoon(Quote)
joe and isak both down
kimtoon(Quote)
Gakpo on now, need to watch him .
kimtoon(Quote)
Great chances going begging, hope we don’t regret it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Come on Callum show us you still got it
kimtoon(Quote)
Bloody hell Callum that was c rap
kimtoon(Quote)
8 mins et, my poor heart
C’mon Lew have a word with the almighty for us
kimtoon(Quote)
ffs lucky lucky liverpool
kimtoon(Quote)
Yes lads magnificent each and everyone . Hope Lew is watching this and can see me in his lucky shirt.
kimtoon(Quote)
Woweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
70 year wait is overrrrrrr
We win the cup! Get in lads!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
CHAMPIONS 🏆🏆🏆🥇🥇🥇🎈🎈🎈⚽⚽⚽
kimtoon(Quote)
Dan Burn! Oh my word. My MotM but it could be any of them.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Big Dan motm for sure, so chuffed he got a goal.
kimtoon(Quote)
We only went and won the fu….cking cup lads and lasses!
Kim, this is for your Lad Lewis! 💪💪👍
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Yeah, I hope he was looking down enjoying it.
kimtoon(Quote)
And Olly, mate, your prediction was absolutely spot on mate! Optimism wins! Well done.
Gilly Toon(Quote)