Liverpool v Newcastle: Andy Carroll issues Mo Salah admission for Carabao Cup
Andy Carroll has played for both Liverpool and Newcastle and has stated where his loyalties lie ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
Arne Slot’s men go into the game as favourites but the Magpies will be looking for their first piece of silverware under the Saudi regime.
The St James’ Park outfit have done well domestically this season and will want a trophy to show for their efforts.
Eddie Howe predicted to win a trophy by Andy Carroll
The former striker admits that he and his kids want Newcastle to win and predicts a 2-1 victory for them in the Carabao Cup final.
He believes Eddie Howe’s side has what it takes to finally lift a trophy and beat the Premier League leaders.
However, he admits that Mo Salah will be the difference maker for the Reds.
“I will be at the game, yeah,” Carroll told Sky Sports News. “I will have to ask the manager if I can leave straight from the game on Saturday and drive to Paris to fly home to get to the game on Sunday and take the kids .
“Me and my boys are obviously all wanting a [Newcastle] win and my dad is coming with me as well, so we are all wanting to win. But it is going to be a tough one. If I am going to go anything I am going to go 2-1 to Newcastle.
“I think [a trophy] is something every fan has been waiting for, you know, and if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen in the next few years with the team and the manager and it would be brilliant to have it on Sunday.
“I went to the League Cup final two years ago (against Manchester United) and it was a hard result to take really. The lads played really well in that one and from that they have the experience so going into this one, I think that is massive.
“I think [Salah and Isak] are the key players. I think Isak for Newcastle is massive and it’s a player we have to keep hold of at the end of the season as well and when he is on form as he is now, he is great.
“And then you go to Liverpool with Salah and he is scoring goals as well and he is not stopping, is he? I think if either player gets stopped then that’s the team [who will win].”
Wembley set for a spectacle between Liverpool and Newcastle
Slot will likely focus on a blend of tactical precision, mental resilience and team unity in his address to the players.
With the match at Wembley marking his first final with the club, the Dutchman will emphasise maintaining their high-pressing, dynamic style that has defined their season, urging players like Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai to exploit Newcastle’s defensive vulnerabilities, especially with key Magpies like Sven Botman and Lewis Hall sidelined.
| Team | EFL Cups |
| Liverpool | 10 |
| Newcastle | 0 |
He’ll likely stress adaptability, given Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury leaves them without a natural right-back, possibly tasking versatile players like Jarell Quansah or midfielders to cover.
Slot will remind his squad of their good domestic run and defensive solidity – boasting the league’s most clean sheets – instilling confidence to neutralize Newcastle’s threats, notably Alexander Isak.
Drawing from his calm yet assertive approach, he’ll encourage focus amid Wembley’s high-stakes atmosphere, reinforcing that collective effort, not individual heroics, wins finals.
With a 17-day break following, Slot might also motivate them to empty the tank, leaving everything on the pitch to lift the first silverware of 2025 and set a tone for their Premier League title chase.