Liverpoolvs.Newcastle

The Reds may have seen their hopes of Champions League glory crash and burn against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, but Arne Slot could still end his debut season with two domestic titles.

The Dutchman's team have streaked clear at the top of the Premier League table, where they are 15 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, and they are seen as the favourites to retain their EFL Cup trophy on Sunday.

Liverpool's tally of 10 EFL Cup titles is already more than any other team in history, and the Merseyside giants have also taken home eight FA Cup crowns for a total of 18 domestic cup honours.

Should Slot mastermind a victory for his side this weekend, Liverpool will match Man United's all-time English football record of 19 combined triumphs in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

Liverpool 90 minutes away from equalling Man United record

The Red Devils have won 13 FA Cups and six EFL Cup titles over the years, hitting the unrivalled 19-trophy tally in the final of the former tournament last year by beating Manchester City.

Man United also have a League Cup success from 2023 sandwiched in between Liverpool's last two triumphs in 2022 and 2024, and history favours the reigning champions ahead of Sunday's showpiece.

Indeed, on each of the last four occasions that the EFL Cup holders have reached the final the following season, they have gone on to win, most recently Manchester City's three in a row from 2019 to 2021.

Liverpool are also on an astounding 17-match unbeaten run over Newcastle, who have been beaten in each of their last five domestic finals since winning the 1954-55 FA Cup, their most recent major trophy.

Eddie Howe's crop will head to Wembley without two key left-sided cogs in Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall, although Liverpool are confirmed to be missing Trent Alexander-Arnold due to the injury he suffered in midweek.

Slot suggests wild-card solution for Alexander-Arnold absence in EFL Cup final

The England international is one of three right-backs absent for the final alongside Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez (both hamstring), leading to the expectation that Jarell Quansah will be used in that position at Wembley.

However, Slot did not rule out throwing an unexpected curveball in his pre-game press conference, saying: "I think maybe even Curtis [Jones] can play there. And you can also play as a left-footed defender on the right side, which is what Newcastle do at the moment but on the opposite [side]."

While Alexander-Arnold is unavailable for the EFL Cup final, Slot is more hopeful over the fitness of Ibrahima Konate, who was also forced off against PSG in the Reds' Champions League defeat.

"What about Ibou Konate? We didn't train yesterday, we were on a day off and the day before was recovery, so I expect him to train with us today but let's see how he is," Slot added.

If Konate is also not passed fit, Slot will have to play at least one player out of position in defence, either Wataru Endo at centre-back if Quansah starts at right-back, or Jones or another wild-card candidate at right-back if Quansah partners Virgil van Dijk.

Written by

Ben Knapton