Today Soccer Prediction Sunday 16th March 2025

Liverpool vs Newcastle Utd, England – EFL Cup, Etihad Stadium, 17:30

The bridesmaid battles the bride in Sunday’s tantalising EFL Cup final, where a silverware-starved Newcastle United hopes to wrestle the trophy out of Liverpool’s grasp under the Wembley arch.

By the close of play on March 16, Arne Slot would have either won his maiden honour in English football, or the Magpies would have ended a torturous trophy drought that is about to hit 70 years exactly.

Formerly Manchester City’s bread-and-butter competition, Liverpool has since become the EFL Cup’s dominant force as they endeavour to retain the title they clinched this time last year, having also broken Chelsea’s hearts in the 2021-22 showpiece.

There should not be a single team in the whole of the British Isles more determined to buck that trend than Newcastle, who are still reliving the glory days of the 1955 FA Cup final, the last time that they ever got their hands on a major piece of silverware.

If Murphy, Isak, and Barnes can channel their inner Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Slot’s depleted backline – especially his ravaged right-hand side – could be in for another rough ride.

However, the Magpies have been far from convincing on the defensive front themselves in recent weeks, and whether a group of players possessing far less cup-final experience than Liverpool can bear the weight of expectation remains to be seen.

A closely contested battle should still be expected, especially with Howe’s side also boasting the fresher set of legs. However, Slot still has our vote to mastermind a narrow victory and enjoy his first trophy lift in English football.

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