(Credit: Imago)

Liverpool fans rage as starting XI confirmed v Newcastle — 'Awful'

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Published on:

16 Mar 2025, 10:12 am

Arne Slot has confirmed his starting lineup as Liverpool face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, but fans aren't pleased.

Wembley will host the Reds and Eddie Howe's team on 16 March, with the season's first major trophy up for grabs.

The Merseyside outfit are coming off a disappointing loss to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League last-16 and will be looking to turn things around.

Slot has made a few changes to the team against the Tyneside outfit and has stuck with a few players, which has left supporters scratching their heads.

Diogo Jota starts for Liverpool v Newcastle. (Credit: Imago)

Liverpool fans rage as starting XI v Newcastle confirmed

Liverpool fans are enraged on X (16 March) as Slot has made two changes to his starting lineup against Newcastle.

Caoimhin Kelleher starts in goal over Alisson in the Carabao Cup final, which is hardly surprising, but that decision has confused some supporters.

Jarell Quansah comes in to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in defence, while the rest of the backline remains the same.

Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominic Szboszlai continue in the middle of the park, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on the wings, but Diogo Jota's inclusion up front is another contentious decision.

Awful, why is Kelleher and Jota starting
— CF Comps (@CF_Compss) March 16, 2025

Is Alisson hurt?
— Amir Sahib (@amirsahib) March 16, 2025

How is Jota starting
Also we wanna see Chiesa get some minutes
Let’s get that first trophy in the bag❤️
— Geezy (@LFCGeezy) March 16, 2025

Jota again?
— living the dream (@LFCNOBBY) March 16, 2025

Why does he keep starting Jota???????
— Bald Is Best™️ (@Temi__AB) March 16, 2025

Nice. Let’s keep Jota in the starting lineup after he put up that abysmal performance in the Champions League
— BcsWoj LFC (@BcsWoj) March 16, 2025

why Alisson is not starting.
— Ahmadraza (@ahmadrazaasif10) March 16, 2025

Garbage rating Jota for a final. I hope I’m wrong, but such a terrible selection.
— Mike (@mikemadethis1) March 16, 2025

Jota hmm

Lets see though
— Elvis⁶𓅓 (@mafia3O) March 16, 2025

Slot to bring Carabao Cup back to Anfield

Liverpool are favourites in the Carabao Cup final after the season they have had under their new manager.

Expectations at Anfield were arguably low after Jurgen Klopp left last summer, and the Reds only signed Federico Chiesa to bolster their squad.

With the 2024/25 campaign in its final months, Slot is on course to win the Premier League, as the Merseyside outfit are considerably ahead of Arsenal in the table.

The Dutch manager has managed to bring the best out of players like Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch, who were still finding their feet last season.

Going into the match at Wembley, the Reds are 25 games unbeaten in the English top flight and beat Newcastle 2-0 at home on 26 February.

The Merseyside outfit haven't lost to the Magpies since 2015, a record that will undoubtedly be encouraging for the Anfield faithful.

It's hard to see past the Reds winning the game, and the Tyneside outfit will evidently need to pull off a miracle to end their trophy drought at Wembley.

Liverpool

Diogo Jota

Arne Slot

Caoimhin Kelleher

Newcastle United

Carabao Cup