Is this the Newcastle United team that can beat Liverpool – Eddie Howe back to the future | OneFootball

It is now just the 12 days before Newcastle United play Liverpool in the League Cup final.

The biggest game of the season as far as Newcastle United are concerned, this group of players only 90 minutes away from modern day legendary status.

A real gorilla off our backs should the class of 2025 finally end the long hoodoo of barren years with no major trophies.

Will be it our year?

At the moment, any neutral would find it very difficult to back against Liverpool.

Difficult to make a case for Newcastle United beating Liverpool, given a poor head to head record, injuries and suspensions. With Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall at the forefront of our thoughts.

The drop in form and performances for Newcastle United in recent weeks, leaving things stacked against Newcastle United winning in 12 days time.

Finals though, don’t always follow the script.

The form book can go out of the window in a final,  the best team on paper doesn’t always win. You just never know.

A relegation-bound Wigan Athletic beat Man City in an FA Cup final.

On their way to relegation, Birmingham City beat Arsenal in a League Cup final.

Manchester City were huge favourites to beat a pretty average Manchester United team in the FA Cup final last season, yet it was the team in red who surprised that day and shocked Man City, plus it cost Newcastle United a place in Europe.

We have to believe we have a chance.

I read the Newcastle United reset article on The Mag earlier today. It had various selection suggestions about who should replace Anthony Gordon, plus pushing the idea of Emil Krafth replacing Fabian Schar for the final.

If Lewis Hall does miss the final, it wouldn’t at all surprise me if Eddie Howe decided to go with something very close to the team that achieved Champions League qualification two years ago.

By which I mean Nick Pope in goal, Kieran Trippier at right-back, Dan Burn returning to left-back in the absence of Lewis Hall, with Sven Botman (if fit) restored next to Fabian Schar .

The left pivot of the two Joes, with Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in midfield, then Alexander isak and Jacob Murphy completing the front line.

Will it work?

I don’t know if any team we pick will be good enough to beat Liverpool but we have to believe we can.

All Newcastle United can do is give it everything, get in their faces, don’t back down, don’t be afraid of the opposition, make it our final.