Alan Shearer predicts what Eddie Howe will do against Liverpool
Alan Shearer has predicted how Newcastle will line-up for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.
Eddie Howe will head to Wembley without injured duo Sven Botman and Lewis Hall, while Anthony Gordon will serve the second game of his three-match suspension for the straight red card received against Brighton.
Arne Slot is without Trent Alexander-Arnold and two back-up right backs in Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, meaning the Reds will be forced into at least one change at the back.
But who will Eddie Howe go with? Shearer has had his say when speaking ahead of Sunday's huge game.
Shearer predicts Newcastle XI
Alan Shearer is backing Eddie Howe to stand by at least 10 of the 11 who started in Monday's 1-0 win over West Ham, discussing his selections at both ends of the pitch.
Bruno Guimaraes latched onto the end of a Harvey Barnes cross to net what proved to be the difference-maker earlier this week, while a back four of Trippier, Schar, Burn and Livramento helped us to our first clean sheet in seven games.
There had been debate around Howe using Joelinton or Joe Willock on the left-wing, but Shearer is expecting Barnes to keep his place, with Tino at left-back in Hall's absence; although he didn't commit to who would start in goal.
Speaking on this week's Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: “They are big losses because Lewis Hall has had a really, really good season. Anthony Gordon might not have been as playing as well as he can do but he’s still a threat.
"So they will be a big miss. But I think what he’ll do is put [Kieran] Trippier right-back and [Tino] Livramento left-back.
"If it was me I’d probably play Harvey Barnes on the left-hand side. With [Jacob] Murphy and [Alexander] Isak. and the three in midfield – if fit – will be Bruno [Guimaraes], Joelinton and [Sandro] Tonali.
Asked by Micah Richards about the chance of Matt Targett starting in his natural position at left-back, Shearer added: “I think with Livramento’s pace, I think that’s why he’ll stick him in at left-back against Mohamed Salah.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV6y1Y-xx0k&ab_channel=TheRestIsFootball
But who starts in goal?
Shearer listed the outfield positions in its entirety but there remains an air of contention around who will start in between the sticks with Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka sharing the minutes.
The clean sheet against West Ham was Pope’s first since returning from injury, actually his first since we beat Arsenal 1–0 at home in November, and his selection in the last three Premier League games make him the likely starter against the Reds.
Pope, who missed the final two years ago after being shown a red for handball against Liverpool in February 2023, has tended to be Howe’s No. 1 when fit and it’s a likely conclusion that trend will continue on Sunday.
Our predicted XI: Pope - Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento - Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton - Murphy, Isak, Barnes
