Slot aims for first trophy - as Magpies try to end drought

Liverpool are aiming for a first trophy under Arne Slot while Newcastle United have a chance to end a run of 56 years without winning a title in Sunday's Carabao Cup final.

The Reds are the defending champions, having beaten Chelsea in extra time last season. It was their final success under Jurgen Klopp before he stepped down as manager at the end of the season.

It is 10 years since anybody other than Manchester City, Manchester United or Liverpool have won the EFL Cup.

This is Newcastle's second cup final under boss Eddie Howe and the Saudi ownership, losing two years ago to Manchester United.

Their most recent trophy was the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

"You play games like this to win it, and that's what we're going to try to do," said Slot, whose side are runaway leaders at the top of the Premier League.

"And we're really looking forward to it, to playing a final again, because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams involved in every cup competition.

"So we're looking forward that we are part of it, and if you are part of it, of course you want and try to win it. But that's probably what Newcastle wants as well."

This is Slot's first season working in English football, having left Feyenoord for Anfield last summer.

He won two trophies in his final two campaigns in the Netherlands - the league title in 2023 and Dutch Cup in 2024.

The 46-year-old is likely to win this year's Premier League title, sitting 15 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with nine games left to go.

But the Carabao Cup is their only other chance of silverware, after Tuesday's Champions League elimination by Paris St-Germain on penalties.

"If we win or lose the final, there will be disappointment that we lost against Paris St-Germain, we are out of that tournament," said Slot, whose side had been favourites to win the Champions League.

Jarell Quansah, who was named in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad, is likely to start at right-back because Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are all ruled out.

However, Slot hopes centre-back Ibrahima Konate will be fit.

"Trent is indeed not available. He will not be there at the final," Slot said.

"But he's still to be assessed for how long it's going to take. We do expect him back before the end of the season.

"With Ibou, we expected only it to be that he was tired or he had some cramps [against PSG] so we are hoping and are expecting that he will be ready to play Sunday again."

Newcastle last lifted a major trophy in 1969, when they beat Hungarian side Ujpest over two legs in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final, the predecessor tournament to the Uefa Cup, which is now the Europa League.

Since then 30 different English league teams have won a trophy.

It is 70 years since the Magpies won a domestic competition, the 1955 FA Cup, five years before the League Cup was first contested.

But 2023's defeat by Manchester United and playing in last season's Champions League means Newcastle have "become more accustomed to the bigger games" according to manager Howe.

"That's been a big part of what we've done since we've been here," he added. "Big-game experience should help us when we need it.

"We've stayed competitive, in the main, in big games. Our style, we have adaptability, but also we have a clear method. A clear representation of us in and out of possession will be really important for us.

"We want to break that wait for a trophy. It's not a negative. We're trying to look at it the other way round, it's the chance to make history and be remembered positively."

They will be without defenders Sven Botman and Lewis Hall, both to serious injuries, and Anthony Gordon serves the second match of a three-game ban after he was sent off against Brighton in the FA Cup.