EFL Cup Final Tips: Toon a tasty 4/1 to pile gloom on Reds
Liverpool and Newcastle are heading to Wembley on Sunday to contest the EFL Cup final and the mood in their respective camps couldn't be more different.
Arne Slot's Reds, chasing a quadruple just five weeks ago, have only two of those targets left now following Wednesday night's Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
While Liverpool went through the mill against PSG, Newcastle have had their feet up as they prepare for their trip to London where they will be looking to lift their first major domestic trophy in 70 years.
EFL Cup Final Betting Tips
- Newcastle to win @ 4/1
- Bruno Guimaraes over 0.5 shots on target @ 17/5
- Liverpool over 3.5 corners in first half @ 17/10
Team news
Liverpool boss Slot expects to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold after he limped out of the defeat by PSG — that's problematic with obvious understudies Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez also injured.
Ibrahima Konate also went off injured during Wednesday night's loss which means Jarell Quansah should be nailed on for a start somewhere in Slot's back four.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe also has tweaks to make with Sven Botman injured once again and Anthony Gordon suspended.
It means Fabian Schar and Dan Burn should be Howe's chosen back two, while Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes will be competing for the slot on the left side of Alexander Isak.
Tip 1 – Newcastle to win @ 4/1
Just over two weeks ago, Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-0 at Anfield to cement their place at the top of the Premier League and extend their unbeaten record against the Magpies to 17 matches.
That is the level of domination which rightly makes them clear favourites to win Sunday's EFL Cup, especially when you add to the equation the fact that the Reds are 23 points better off in the league table.
And then there's history. Liverpool are record 10-time winners of this competition, all 10 triumphs achieved since Newcastle last lifted any piece of major domestic silverware, the FA Cup way back in 1955.
Yet for all that, there is a feeling that Newcastle are being sent off at a price that simply doesn't reflect the lie of the land.
Quad-chasers five weeks ago, Plymouth in the FA Cup and PSG in the Champions League have left Liverpool down to just two targets and the Merseysiders head south absolutely broken by the manner of Wednesday's gruelling Anfield setback.
It was a loss that came with injuries as well and, while they will pick themselves up, they were running out of gas as the game went on against PSG and will surely suffer a similar fate on Wembley's sapping, wide open spaces.
Newcastle have had six days to recover from a 1-0 win at West Ham, their 14th win in the last 19 matches.
Blessed with hugely talented players of the calibre of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and the prolific Isak, Newcastle have the talent — and the reserves of energy — to stun the champions-elect.
Tip 2 – Bruno Guimaraes Over 0.5 Shots on Target @ 17/5
Newcastle do offer a genuine goal threat these days and it's not all about Isak.
It was Guimaraes who scored the winner at West Ham on Monday night and he is enjoying himself in a more advanced role.
Getting forward against Liverpool is going to be harder than against the Hammers but the Brazilian will feed off any scraps around the box.
He has three goals to his name this season and should get sighters of Alisson's goal, especially as the game opens up.
Tip 3 – Liverpool over 3.5 corners in first half @ 17/10
Liverpool had won four corners by the 17th minute against PSG on Wednesday.
They may well come out of the blocks hard against Newcastle, who could need time to find their feet on this biggest of occasions.
It's a left-field call but 17/10 that Slot's men can win over 3.5 first-half corners plays to the notion that they will be doing most of the attacking.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation