The winner of the first major trophy of the English season will be decided this Sunday as Liverpool and Newcastle United lock horns in the League Cup final.
Liverpool are the incumbent League Cup holders, having beaten Chelsea to the trophy last season, while Newcastle are in the final for the second time in three seasons.
The Reds are seen as favourites to win the final thanks to the quality in their squad, which has seen them establish a huge lead at the top of the Premier League table.
However, Liverpool aren’t unbeatable, having lost to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup and getting knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain this term.
Micah Richards has now told Newcastle legend Alan Shearer what the Magpies would need to do to have a “little bit of hope” of winning the League Cup final.
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Newcastle urged to press Liverpool high up the pitch
Shearer and Richards were speaking on The Rest is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker as they gave their thoughts on how the League Cup final could pan out.
The Toon legend admitted that Liverpool will go into the game as favourites, but also noted that upsets can happen.
Shearer specifically mentioned the 2011 FA Cup final, when Wigan Athletic beat Manchester City thanks to Ben Watson’s last-minute goal.
Richards, who used to play for City, joked: “Why are you bringing up old stuff mate?”
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Shearer replied: “Well, I’m just having all these things that you’ve got to hope, you know! Just give us a give us a little bit of hope.”
Richards then explained how Newcastle’s best chance would be to press high up the pitch like PSG did.
“Okay the little bit of Hope is, Al, if you press them,” began Richards.
“And when Newcastle are at the best and they press high like PSG did – of course you’ve not got the same quality as PSG, but you can get at them in in that part of the (pitch).
“That’s the chance, I would say – I know Wembley’s a massive pitch but yeah, that that’ll give you a little bit of hope.”
Shearer then said: “Agreed.”
Liverpool v Newcastle early team news
Liverpool and Newcastle United head into Sunday’s final with injury concerns for both sides.
Liverpool are likely to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had to come off against PSG with a suspected knee injury.
Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are also set to be absent, while Ibrahima Konate hobbled off in extra time, though Slot suggested it was fatigue.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will be without Anthony Gordon, who was suspended as a result of the red card he was shown in the FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
Lewis Hall has been ruled out for the rest of the season following foot surgery, while Sven Botman will spend more time on the sidelines due to a recurrence of a knee problem.
