Mohamed Salah ‘to run riot’ as yet another Newcastle player out of EFL Cup final
Mohamed Salah and Liverpool could run riot in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle United after a new injury update emerged from St James’ Park.
Liverpool face Newcastle at Wembley on 16 March with the first silverware of the 2024-25 season on the line, and Arne Slot’s side will go into the game as heavy favourites given the two sides’ current fortunes.
Liverpool lead the way in the Premier League table by 13 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal; Newcastle sit another 10 points back in sixth, facing a challenge to qualify for the Champions League.
Slot will be taking nothing for granted against a Magpies side who’ve already held them to a 3-3 draw away from Anfield this season, but it’s also one who could be severely under-strength at Wembley.
Newcastle hit with fresh injury blow ahead of Liverpool clash
Newcastle may have a quieter schedule than Liverpool ahead of 16 March’s decider, with one match in all competitions, but Eddie Howe has several team selection issues to contend with.
| Liverpool injuries | Newcastle United injuries |
| Conor Bradley (muscle injury) | Jamaal Lascelles (Cruciate ligament) |
| Joe Gomez (shoulder) | Lewis Hall (ankle) |
| Tyler Morton (hamstring) | Sven Botman (knee) |
Not only does Anthony Gordon look set to miss the final, the Daily Mail reported on Tuesday (4 March) that Lewis Hall will also be absent at Wembley following an ankle injury picked up against Liverpool last week.
Hall has seen a specialist who delivered the news after Newcastle’s 2-0 loss at Anfield, and though the full extent of the injury is not known, the Magpies will definitely be without their left-back at Wembley.
Lewis Hall absence opens door for Mohamed Salah v Newcastle
Although Newcastle have an able deputy for Hall in the form of versatile fellow England defender Tino Livramento, Howe being without both his first-choice players on the left will be a bitter pill to swallow.
Gordon being absent after his ill-tempered red card against Brighton on Sunday takes plenty of pressure off Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Newcastle missing Hall could also play right into Liverpool’s hands.
As well as Alexander-Arnold, the Reds also have the Premier League’s shining light playing down their right in the form of Salah, who will be looking to let loose against a makeshift Newcastle defence.
The Magpies already had a tough enough task to try and contain Salah with both Hall and Gordon in the side, but without the pair, many will see the EFL Cup as a trophy that is already Liverpool’s to lose.