Liverpool and Newcastle United will lock horns in the first major final of the English football calendar with the League Cup up for grabs on Sunday.
The Reds and the Magpies will face off at Wembley as both Arne Slot and Eddie Howe look to win their first major trophy in English football.
Liverpool have won a fair few trophies in recent years, including last season’s League Cup.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s last trophy was the 1969 Fairs Cup, and their last domestic trophy was the 1955 FA Cup.
Chris Sutton has now predicted who will triumph out of Liverpool and Newcastle on Sunday.
Chris Sutton backs Liverpool for 3-2 win over Newcastle
Sutton has acknowledged “how much it would mean” for Newcastle to finally get their hands on a major trophy.
However, he noted that the Magpies have not beaten Liverpool in 17 games, and they’re also without Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon on the left.
And while “it won’t be easy” for a Liverpool side missing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sutton still feels the Reds will win on the day, backing them for a 3-2 win.
“We all know how much it would mean for Newcastle to end their long wait for a major trophy,” Sutton told BBC Sport. “But they have not beaten Liverpool since December 2015, a run of 17 games.
“When you consider the Magpies are without Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon – their entire first-choice on the left flank – I really don’t see that run ending at Wembley.
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“I am expecting Tino Livramento to replace Hall and try to stop Mohamed Salah. Livramento is mobile and quick, but I don’t think he will keep Salah quiet all game.
“It won’t be easy for Liverpool, though. They are without Trent Alexander-Arnold and, with Conor Bradley likely to be sidelined too, they will need to find someone to fill in at right-back.
“The midfield battle will be key, because Newcastle are very good in that area, especially now Joelinton is back alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, but it is one of Liverpool’s strengths too.
“Arne Slot’s biggest issue is how the Reds will react to the disappointment of going out of the Champions League against PSG, but I don’t see them having a hangover from that shootout defeat.
“My gut feeling is that we will see a few goals, and Liverpool will win in 90 minutes.”
Liverpool v Newcastle team news
Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be available for Liverpool in their final against Newcastle.
The England international is facing an extended spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez will also miss out due to injury, leaving Slot without a recognised right-back for the Wembley showpiece.
There were concerns over Ibrahima Konate after he came off during extra-time of the PSG game, but Slot suggested this was fatigue and he is likely to feature.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will be without Lewis Hall, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a foot injury.
He joins Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles in the Magpies’ treatment room, both of whom are suffering from knee injuries.
In addition, Anthony Gordon’s red card in the FA Cup loss to Brighton means that he is suspended for the trip to Wembley.
Gordon will serve the second of his three-match suspension for violent conduct.
