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

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

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.

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.

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

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

2-1 to Liverpool, within the 90 minutes.

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

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

2-0 to Liverpool in 90 minutes.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Fabian Schar could be a good option for a goal.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Mo Salah.

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

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.

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?

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