Newcastle has waited 70 years and Liverpool might not survive this final | OneFootball

Liverpool and Newcastle step out onto the Wembley grass with dreams higher than simply winning the trophy. One is a giant used to big finals, needing to prove its strength once more during an era of transformation. The other is a club with seven decades of despair on its shoulders, seeing this final as a chance to change its destiny. The Carabao Cup may be a less glamorous title in the opinion of others, but for these two teams, it could be a turning point.

Liverpool with the weight of the favorite

Liverpool carries the weight of a team that has won this title ten times and knows better than most how to do it. The weight of tradition is on the shoulders of the players, but so is the responsibility to respond. The Champions League exit at Anfield was not merely a disappointment, it was a morale dented for a team that had been galvanized. Arne Slot now has to win his first big final as boss and see that the winning of a trophy will hasten his recognition as the leader of a club that still dwells in Jürgen Klopp's shadow. Liverpool are the favorite, but also a team that can't afford to slip up.

"You can't under-estimate a final, and especially in this country with all these excellent sides in every competition. Everybody wants to play a final, you want to win titles, and this is an opportunity. The way we're doing in the league is another reason why we should keep going. A final in this country is always something special. If you reach one, it's always a big moment for us and for them. Even though we have two cups in this country, you can never take this for granted," Slot said.

Newcastle desperate to end its title drought

The. There's a different atmosphere at Newcastle. The domestic trophy wait has persisted since 1955, a burden not only shouldered by the players and coaching staff, but also a fan base that has made this final one of obsession. Eddie Howe recognizes that he has a good team, but he also realizes that to win a game like this, there has to be more than quality. It demands keeping one's head, handling pressure, and converting fear into power.

"I think it's a real spur for us to try to end this long wait, this long drought that everyone's going through. It has to motivate us, not be a negative. I know that to a lot of people, it's negative, but we're trying to look at it differently. It's an opportunity to make history for us as a team, that doesn't come that often in soccer. You don't get very many opportunities like this, a chance to become remembered in a positive manner."

Who is going to be the hero?

The primary players for this duel have already been identified before the ball has been kicked. Salah, with his excellent stats against Newcastle, is Liverpool's best bet. He has proved time and again that he is a big-game player, and with the likely return of Alexander-Arnold, who got injured in the PSG match, his contribution in the attacking unit will be even more crucial. On the other hand, Isak is the biggest threat to Liverpool's hopes. Against the Reds, he has already scored crucial goals and is more likely to find space than most. The game will be played through the legs of these two players, but as ever, the decision may come from where it least appears likely.