Newcastle United Approaches EFL Cup Final With Renewed Confidence Against Liverpool

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Eddie Howe senses a shift in Newcastle United's atmosphere as they gear up for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Liverpool. This time, the mood is different from their last final defeat in 2023. Newcastle aims to secure their first major domestic trophy since 1955, when they triumphed over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Since that victory, the Magpies have faced disappointment in five domestic cup finals, losing three EFL Cup and two FA Cup finals. Only Chelsea has experienced a longer streak of final losses, with three defeats in both the EFL and FA Cups since 2019. Howe led Newcastle to the final of this competition in 2023, but they were defeated 2-0 by Manchester United, with goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.

Howe believes his team approaches this match with newfound confidence after eliminating four Premier League clubs: Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Brentford, and Arsenal. "I am feeling very good. I think it does feel different," Howe shared with reporters while reflecting on the 2023 final. He noted that this season has been marked by a calm and controlled approach.

Newcastle's journey to the final involved a challenging series of fixtures amidst a busy campaign that included Premier League and FA Cup commitments. Howe emphasized that there has been less external noise and emotion this time around, which he hopes will positively impact their performance on game day.

A victory on Sunday would make Howe the first English manager to win a major trophy with a Premier League team since Harry Redknapp led Portsmouth to an FA Cup victory in 2008. The last Englishman to lift the EFL Cup as a manager was Steve McClaren with Middlesbrough in 2004.

Howe boasts an impressive record in the EFL Cup with Newcastle, having won 12 out of 16 matches (75%), the highest win ratio for any manager who has overseen more than one game for the Magpies in this competition. Kevin Keegan is the only Newcastle manager with more wins in the EFL Cup, securing 13 victories in 21 games.

Players Share Optimism

Midfielder Bruno Guimaraes echoed Howe's sentiments about increased confidence within the team. "I feel we have more confidence," he stated. "Because we have made a final before, we now have more experience." Guimaraes acknowledged changes within the squad but emphasized that the core remains intact.

Guimaraes expressed optimism about their current form: "We are in our best moment. Hopefully we can go there and play our best football because on our best day, I think we are really a great team." He highlighted their shared goal with fans: "We just want to make the fans happy."

The upcoming match presents an opportunity for Newcastle to bring home a long-awaited trophy and boost morale among supporters. The team's determination is evident as they prepare to give their all on Sunday.