Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United – Do the schedules decide? | OneFootball

Much was made of the number of games Arsenal had in between the first and second legs of the League Cup semi-final.

Compared to Newcastle United, who played five times between 7 January and 5 February 2025, Arsenal had to negotiate their way through seven matches; four in the Premier League, two in the UEFA Champions League and one in the FA Cup.

In the end, United repeated the 2-0 scoreline from the Emirates to deservedly book their place at Wembley, where they’ll play Liverpool in the final.

Did it matter that we played less football in between both victories? I believe it was a contributory factor.

Both Newcastle United and Liverpool have played FA Cup fourth round ties since dispatching North London opposition in last week’s League Cup semi-final, second legs. There was a significant difference in the outcome of those ties however, United winning at St Andrew’s with an under strength team, Liverpool coming a cropper in Devon against Plymouth Argyle.

Liverpool faced Everton last night in what promised to be a highly charged (and so it proved!) Merseyside derby, the last ever at Goodison Park, where weirdly, the Toffees had a picture of former player and current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on the cover of their commemorative programme.

That is one of six Premier League fixtures that Liverpool play before the League Cup Final on 16 March. They also play two round of 16 UEFA Champions League matches in the fortnight leading up to the final, nine games, including the final in the space of 33 days.

By contrast, Newcastle United have five Premier League matches and an FA Cup fifth round tie ahead of the showdown on 16 March, seven games including the final in the space of 33 games.

Within those schedules, there is of course, a dress rehearsal for the final on the evening of 26 February when United travel to Anfield.

If anyone has a squad to cope with the demands of two additional games, it’s Liverpool. The cohort who don’t routinely start for Liverpool is widely considered the most impressive in the Premier League, with more than a fair share of game changers and match winners warming their bench.

Looking more closely at those fixtures, I think it’s fair to say that there isn’t much between the teams that United and Liverpool face in the run up to the Final. As well as playing each other, they both visit the Etihad, and whilst United have a tricky home game against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool have to travel to Villa Park.

Here’s the thing about that encounter Liverpool face against Aston Villa though. Originally scheduled for the weekend of the League Cup Final, those that juggle Premier League fixtures when conflicts arise have brought that one forward to Wednesday 19 February.

The fact that Liverpool play 33% more matches than United ahead of 16 March might not seem a lot.

But if you are looking for competitive advantage, I do believe it counts.

And, if you’re looking for a slice of good fortune, the re-scheduling of that match at Villa Park ahead of, rather than after the League Cup Final can only be viewed as a positive from our perspective.