Synopsis
The Carabao Cup final this weekend features Liverpool against Newcastle United, with just eight Premier League matches left before the first title is awarded. Liverpool is favored to win, but must overcome recent setbacks including injuries and fatigue.Key Takeaways
- Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle.
- Liverpool is the favorite but faces injury issues.
- Champions League qualification race remains competitive.
- Arsenal and Chelsea are struggling with injuries.
- Manchester United seeks redemption after Europa League win.
London, March 14 (NationPress) This weekend's Carabao Cup final featuring Liverpool and Newcastle United signifies that only eight matches remain in the Premier League before England's first title of the season is awarded. Liverpool heads to Wembley as the strong favourite to claim the Carabao Cup trophy, but coach Arne Slot must motivate his squad following their heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on Tuesday.
Fatigue could impact Liverpool, especially with the absence of full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold due to a knee injury sustained on Tuesday, along with his expected replacement, Conor Bradley, who is also sidelined, as reported by Xinhua. Meanwhile, Newcastle faces a significant setback with Anthony Gordon serving the second match of a three-match suspension following a red card in their recent FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
While Liverpool's 15-point advantage at the top of the Premier League suggests the title race is practically concluded, the battle for Champions League qualification remains very competitive, particularly with the Premier League likely to have five spots available for the upcoming season.
The second-placed Arsenal and fourth-ranked Chelsea are set to square off on Sunday, both struggling with injuries affecting their offensive capabilities. Arsenal is still without Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, and although Bukayo Saka is nearing a return, he will not be risked until after the international break.
Chelsea too has personnel issues, lacking Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, which may lead to a patiently contested match.
Nottingham Forest currently enjoys a four-point lead over Newcastle, who are sitting in sixth place, while Nuno Espiritu Santo's team prepares to visit Ipswich Town, who are struggling at 18th and have yet to win a Premier League match in 2025.
Manchester City and Brighton are also in contention for a Champions League spot, with Brighton traveling to Manchester after achieving four consecutive victories, placing them just one point behind Guardiola's inconsistent team.
Bournemouth still has a decent shot at European competition next season, but Andoni Iraola's squad must secure a victory against Brentford to snap a three-match winless streak.
The match between Fulham and Tottenham is expected to be closely contested, although Fulham's robust defense could provide them an advantage over a team that faced a tough European challenge on Thursday.
The Europa League offered Manchester United some much-needed relief with a decisive 4-1 victory against Real Sociedad. United is now set to face struggling Leicester City, managed by former United assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had a brief but impactful stint as caretaker coach at Old Trafford after Ten Hag's dismissal.
