Newcastle incident will leave Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool laughing
Trent Alexander-Arnold and his Liverpool team-mates will be laughing all the way to Wembley ahead of facing Newcastle United on 16 March.
Liverpool face the Magpies in two weeks’ time with the first silverware of the season up for grabs; the Reds looking to complete the first of a treble given their Premier League and Champions League form.
Arne Slot’s side have already faced Newcastle twice this term, drawing 3-3 at St. James’ Park before a 2-0 win at Anfield last time out, with Eddie Howe on the hunt for a first piece of silverware on Tyneside.
Newcastle certainly have an attack capable of beating Liverpool with the likes of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy, but at least one of those players may be missing at Wembley.
Anthony Gordon all-but certain to miss Liverpool v Newcastle
While Isak missed Newcastle’s 2-0 loss at Anfield and went off with an injury in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton – and will therefore be a risk to miss the final – one Magpies player looks certain to be out.
Anthony Gordon appears destined to pick up a lengthy ban following his red card against Brighton, after he lashed out in frustration and struck Jan Paul van Hecke in the face to receive his marching orders.
As a result – and with Newcastle having just one Premier League fixture before heading to Wembley – Gordon looks set to pick up a ban of at least three matches which will render him unavailable for the final.
Anthony Gordon development will delight Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold’s defending often comes under the microscope as his weakest attribute, and while that’s often blown out of proportion, there’s no denying that Gordon would have caused him problems.
Gordon’s form in black and white has not only made him a regular on England’s left flank, but also a transfer target for the Reds, with Liverpool tabling an offer north of £50million for him last summer.
| Liverpool | EFL Cup Semi-Final result | Newcastle |
| Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool | First Leg | Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal |
| Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham | Second Leg | Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle |
Either Alexander-Arnold or Conor Bradley would therefore have their work cut out if coming up against Gordon at Wembley on 16 March, and him missing the final is a huge boost for Liverpool’s chances.
There’s still a chance that Newcastle successfully appeal Gordon’s red card, but with that looking unlikely, Liverpool fans may feel that Slot already has one hand on the first trophy of his tenure at Anfield.