Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of the Carabao Cup final. I am sure you have heard the latest score: Manchester United 6 -- 54 Newcastle United. That is how many years it has been since these giant clubs won their last trophy. One but only one will end at Wembley today.
The trophy drought means that the Carabao Cup is a glorious end in itself, and today will be a snobbery-free occasion. These renascent clubs want it to be a stepping stone the first of many trophies in a bright new era, just as it was for Jose Mourinho's Chelsea 2005 Sir Alex Ferguson's last great United team 2006 and Pep Guardiola s Manchester City 2018. There is a reason Brian Clough cherished the Anglo-Scottish Cup: the first trophy opens different neural pathways for an emerging team.
The final came at the perfect time for Man Utd, who are bang in form and high on life under Erik ten Hag. For the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired 10 years ago, something brilliant is happening at Old Trafford, as a result of their stirring win over Barcelona on Thursday.
Newcastle have lost ground a bit since qualifying for the final, with two draws and a defeat in the Premier League. They will also be without Nick Pope through suspension, which is probably the most compelling of all of the subplots today. The irreplaceable Bruno Guimaraes will return from suspension, and Newcastle s players some of whom won't be around for the next big final know that this is their chance to become immortal. Question 4 : Name the starting XI that won Newcastle's first major trophy since 1969.
Napoli are the only team in Europe's big five leagues to have suffered fewer defeats in all competitions than Newcastle. Don't be surprised if this goes to extra-time, maybe penalties.