Carabao Cup Final Tips: Paddy’s pundits’ epic cheat sheet for Liverpool v Newcastle showdown

Cometh the hour... cometh the pundits!

Crack open a can of the caffeinated good stuff, cancel everything and put your feet up because we’ve got another sparkling Carabao Cup Final to devour this weekend – and it’s on free-to-view telly as well.

It’s Liverpool v Newcastle at Wembley to decide who’s taking home the first major silverware of the season, with all due respect to the Community Shield and The Scottish League Cup, and Paddy’s leafed through his little black book to round up the best in the business to deliver their esteemed verdicts ahead of Sunday’s 4.30pm kick off.

 

As it happens three Liverpool heroes answered the call with Peter Crouch, Mark Lawrenson and Joe Cole all lining up to hopefully help Paddy’s punters pick his pocket this weekend.

Kieron Dyer, Shola Ameobi and Joe Kinnear were, unfortunately, busy but we’ve got two of Paddy Power News top tipsters in Oli Nixon and Andrew Beasley on hand to offer a slightly-less Reds-tinted view.

Shola, answer your damn phone, man!

But with the big kick off hurtling towards us faster than a raging carabao, let’s try and work out how the 2025 final’s going to play out.

And, if that wasn’t enough good news, we’re delighted to reveal Paddy’s Super Sub is available on the final too, so if one of your player picks gets hauled off early, your bet rolls on.

Joe Cole

Peter Crouch

Mark Lawrenson

Andrew Beasley

Oli Nixon

Joe Cole

Liverpool. They’ll have the nous to get the job done.

Peter Crouch

I think Liverpool will go and win on Sunday. Anthony Gordon is a big miss for Newcastle. Liverpool might have a couple of injuries and be a bit fatigued from their European game in midweek but they should get over the line on Sunday.

Mark Lawrenson

Liverpool. They’ve had five days rest coming into this which is like a mid-season break! They normally only get three between games so they’ll be ready despite extra time against Paris St-Germain on Tuesday.

Andrew Beasley

Liverpool. They haven’t lost to Newcastle since 2015 so why start now?

Oli Nixon

I can’t look past a highly motivated Liverpool team to win, especially having beaten Newcastle so comfortably less than a month ago.

Joe Cole

2-1 to Liverpool, within the 90 minutes.

Peter Crouch

I’ll go for 2-1 to Liverpool in 90 minutes.

Mark Lawrenson

2-0 to Liverpool inside the 90 minutes. Liverpool don’t like extra time any more!

Andrew Beasley

2-0 to Liverpool in 90 minutes.

Oli Nixon

2-0 Liverpool. Newcastle to be the bridesmaids yet again!

Joe Cole

I think there could be a European hangover for Liverpool and that Newcastle will score first. Alexander Isak or Jacob Murphy could pounce on a mistake.

Peter Crouch

It’s obvious, but Mo Salah’s the best option for me.

Mark Lawrenson

You’d have to go for Mo Salah. We hardly saw him in the two games against PSG. He never seems to go too long without scoring in big games and he’ll love those wide-open spaces at Wembley.

Andrew Beasley

Mohamed Salah. It is his season. His only goal at Wembley came in a 4-1 league defeat to Tottenham. It’s time he made a mark on a final there.

Oli Nixon

It’s a boring pick but how can you ignore the best player on the planet this season, Mo Salah? He’s got 4 goals against Newcastle in the last 3 meetings.

Joe Cole

Fabian Schar could be a good option for a goal.

Peter Crouch

Virgil van Dijk’s always a threat from corners. He nicked one in the last final too and looked a threat from set-pieces against PSG, so he might be a decent long-shot for an anytime scorer.

Mark Lawrenson

I wonder if the big lad Dan Burn might get himself in trouble. He loves a tackle and he might get himself sent off if he gets one wrong.

Andrew Beasley

A Liverpool midfielder to score. Curtis Jones (twice), Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have all netted against Newcastle since the start of last year. I’ll take Szoboszlai, he’s in the best form in front of goal.

Oli Nixon

Ryan Gravenberch and Joelinton to commit 1 or more fouls on each other. Both love a foul involvement and Gravenberch’s averaging 2.41 per 90 with Joelinton registering 3.46. Last time they met both made 2 fouls, Gravenberch fouled once and Joelinton twice.

Joe Cole

Dan Burn. He might be playing left-back against Mo Salah.

Peter Crouch

Joelinton’s had the most cards for Newcastle this season so I’ll go for him to get another.

Mark Lawrenson

Joelinton is a good player but he’s also very, very physical. He’s not played that much recently and gave away five fouls against West Ham on Monday.

Andrew Beasley

Take your pick, as match referee Rob Jones is the top Premier League ref for cards per game. I’ll go Dan Burn, as he has a high fouls to card ratio this season.

Oli Nixon

The Gravenberch & Joelinton double at nearly 9/1 looks great value.

Joe Cole

Mo Salah.

Peter Crouch

Mo Salah again. If he scores and Liverpool win it’s probably going to be him, isn’t it?

Mark Lawrenson

Dominik Szoboszlai. He’s a great player and always catches the eye. He will love that huge surface, as he’ll have loads of room to dictate and spray those passes.

Andrew Beasley

Mo Salah. Liverpool fans have voted him player of the match 13 times this season when the next most has four. Who else could it be?

Oli Nixon

Mo Salah. If he’s scoring first and likely to at least be involved in the second, it can’t go anywhere else.

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