Liverpool will aim to win the first trophy under new manager Arne Slot when they face Newcastle United in the League Cup final on Sunday.
The Reds, who defeated Chelsea in last year’s final, are record holders of the competition with 10 titles and are looking to claim the trophy for the third time in four years.
Speaking ahead of the final, Slot expressed his excitement and determination.
“You play games like this to win them, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to it because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams.”
Liverpool enter the match as Premier League leaders but will be looking to bounce back from their Champions League exit after a 4-1 penalty loss to Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the week.
Slot, who will be visiting Wembley for the first time, believes the final is a perfect opportunity for redemption.
“It’s a great occasion to be in and especially after losing against Paris Saint-Germain. It’s maybe the perfect game,” he added.
For Newcastle, this is a chance to end a 56-year wait for major silverware. The club has not won a domestic trophy since the 1955 FA Cup, and their last significant European success came in 1969 with the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Magpies manager Eddie Howe urged his players to seize the opportunity to make history.
“We want to break that wait for a trophy. It’s not a negative,” he said. “We’re trying to look at it the other way round—it’s the chance to make history and be remembered positively.”
Newcastle will have to overcome major challenges, as key players Anthony Gordon (suspended), Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, and Jamaal Lascelles (injured) will miss the final.
Liverpool recently defeated Newcastle 2-0 in the Premier League, but Howe remains confident in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
“We’ve stayed competitive, in the main, in big games,” he said. “Our style, we have adaptability, but also we have a clear method.”
With both teams determined to lift the trophy, Wembley is set for an exciting final as Liverpool chase another piece of silverware, while Newcastle dreams of making history.
