Four talking points from the Carabao Cup semi-finals | OneFootball

After Newcastle United and Liverpool booked their place in the decider at Wembley next month, we look at four talking points from the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Can Newcastle end Wembley woes?

Newcastle’s long wait for silverware is well documented but the Magpies have another chance to end the drought next month. It’s been 70 years since Newcastle last won a major domestic trophy with generations of fans having failed to see trophy success.

There have been plenty of near misses on the way. Newcastle have lost five major finals since last lifting a trophy, including back-to-back FA Cup finals in the late nineties. Kevin Keegan’s ‘Entertainers’ famously blew a 12-point lead in the Premier League in 1995/96, while their most recent cup final appearance ended in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in 2023.

Eddie Howe has a second bite of the cherry in this competition and while Newcastle will be underdogs, their 4-0 dispatching of Arsenal in the last four should create confidence.

Toothless Arsenal shown what they’re missing

Mikel Arteta was candid when assessing the January transfer window, admitting he was ‘disappointed’ that Arsenal failed to bring in a goalscorer. Despite a bid for Ollie Watkins, the window shut without a recognised number nine arriving at the Emirates.

Against Newcastle, it showed. Over the two legs, Arsenal had twice as many shots as the Magpies (34 to 17) but lost 4-0 on aggregate in the tie. One player who has been linked with Arsenal, Alexander Isak, showed the Gunners exactly what they are missing.

After scoring at the Emirates in the first meeting, he was unplayable in the return. The much-lauded centre-back axis of William Saliba and Gabriel were all at sea as Isak showed what an elite focal point can bring to a side. It’s an issue Arsenal must address in the summer.

Cody Gakpo loves the Carabao Cup

Cody Gakpo just loves the Carabao Cup.

The Dutchman took some time to truly convince in a Liverpool shirt but has been a revelation under Arne Slot. Alongside compatriot Ryan Gravenberch, he has an argument as Liverpool’s most improved player under the new manager.

After opening the scoring against Spurs, Gakpo has now scored 16 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions. He’s already matched his return from the whole of last season and has scored 10 goals in his last 10 Anfield appearances.

After scoring four times during Liverpool’s League Cup success last season, he’s hit five in five games this time around. No player has scored more in the Carabao Cup this season.

Danso debut a silver lining for struggling Spurs

Ange Postecoglou’s problems keep on mounting and a timid Tottenham performance at Anfield will not ease the pressure on his position. Spurs failed to muster a shot on target, with their 1-0 lead from the first leg evaporating quickly in the return.

The mitigating factors of a season of struggle remain the absent personnel. Spurs were without four of their first-choice back five at Liverpool. Their leading Premier League goalscorer (James Maddison), leading overall scorer (Brennan Johnson) and £65m record signing (Dominic Solanke) were also unavailable.

A bright point on an otherwise tough night was the performance of Kevin Danso. Thrown in for his debut, it was a baptism of fire for the recent recruit. The Austrian was one of the few to emerge with credit, blocking three shots and winning 100% of his ground duels (3/3).

In testing circumstances, he showed he could be a shrewd signing. It might not look like it right now, but there is the foundation of a promising side at Spurs. Whether Postecoglou gets to see it through these choppy waters remains to be seen.

Read – The most expensive transfers of the winter window

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