Newcastle are counting the cost of fitness problems and frustration ahead of their Carabao Cup final with Liverpool. They are set to be without four key players at Wembley.
The Reds return to the capital looking to defend the title they won last year against Chelsea. That day, a patched-up Liverpool team won in extra time thanks to a header from Virgil van Dijk.
This time Liverpool are in much better shape, although they look poised to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold after the ankle problem he picked up against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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Arne Slot will provide an update on his condition at his press conference on Friday. Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Tyler Morton are already confirmed absentees.
Newcastle have some big gaps to fill in their squad. In terms of injuries, the left side of their defence has been decimated, with centre-back Sven Botman and left-back Lewis Hall set to sit out the rest of the campaign. Club captain Jamaal Lascelles, while a peripheral figure in recent years, is also sidelined.
Anthony Gordon will also miss the game, but he only has himself to blame. The Liverpool-supporting former Everton winger was sent off during his team's loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup after lashing out at an opponent.
The red card meant a three-game domestic ban for Gordon, the last of which will be Sunday's showdown at Wembley.
There have been some concerns over the fitness of Newcastle's Alexander Isak in recent weeks, with the Sweden international missing the 2-0 defeat at Anfield in the Premier League. However, he has started the last two fixtures, including the 1-0 win at West Ham United on Monday.
Newcastle will be hoping they can overcome these absentees to clinch their first piece of silverware since 1955. They made it to the final two years ago but lost 2-0 to Manchester United.
