Newcastle’s focus now shifts to the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday following the narrow victory over West Ham on Monday.
Liverpool, who is comfortably leading the Premier League and has been relentless in the Champions League, poses a formidable challenge. With Anthony Gordon’s suspension and injuries to Sven Botman and Lewis Hall, the Magpies face an uphill battle.
However, compared to its last Carabao Cup final in 2023, Newcastle has a significant advantage in the goalkeeping department. Nick Pope was suspended for the match against Manchester United, while Martin Dubravka was cup-tied.
This time, Howe has both goalkeepers at his disposal, but choosing one could be the most challenging decision of his managerial career. Pope has had a rough patch since returning from injury, whereas Dubravka was in top form before being benched.
Howe’s comments on Monday Night Football hinted at a possible return for Dubravka, referring to Pope as the league goalkeeper ahead of the West Ham kick-off. This sparked a debate in the studio about the final selection, with many Newcastle fans hoping for Dubravka’s return.
Pundits Jamie Carragher and ex-Southampton manager Russell Martin provided insightful analysis heading into the final. Martin highlighted a crucial aspect of Newcastle’s playing style that could be pivotal against Liverpool.
Reds legend Carragher said: “You go with your best team when you’re in a cup final, certainly when you’re in a position like Newcastle. Liverpool might do something different in terms of Kelleher but he’s certainly got to prove that he’s [Pope] in the best team tonight.”
“A big strong performance from him will go some way in doing that, but this idea of cup keepers and league keepers, I think when you start to get to really pivotal moments of semi-finals and finals, you go with your best team.”
In discussing the benefit of Newcastle having two top-tier goalkeepers, Martin concurred: “I think so. Martin Dubravka brings them a bit more control in the build-up and they can build up a bit cleaner than they can under Nick Pope.”
“I think consistency is really important. Having two [top goalkeepers] when one gets injured knowing the other coming in is top [level], because he’s been a really good servant for them Martin Dubravka. He’s a really good goalkeeper so knowing you’ve got that is really important.”
