The Magpies travel to Wembley Stadium for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, with the hope that they can bring a trophy back to Tyneside after decades of heartache.
Newcastle United take on defending Carabao Cup winners and Premier League leaders Liverpool in the final, meaning Eddie Howe’s side will have to do it the hard way if they want to end the wait for a trophy.
Amanda Staveley is attending the final after it was revealed that Newcastle gifted Staveley tickets. She will be joined by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, who turned down several work opportunities to watch the game as a fan.
Newcastle are without the likes of Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall for the final, but Shearer has backed their replacements to do the business on Sunday.
Howe has taken a cautious approach to Newcastle’s final, trialling different lineups in Gordon and Hall’s absence. Harvey Barnes was praised by Newcastle fans after bagging an assist in the win against West Ham United on Monday, but Howe could still look to other options like Joelinton or Joe Willock.
Shearer played in two cup finals for Newcastle, losing the FA Cup twice at Wembley. He’s now hoping that the current crop of players can right the wrongs from the past.
Alan Shearer’s ’embarrassing’ Newcastle cup final memory
Shearer is Newcastle’s record scorer and is still the Premier League’s top scorer, 19 years after his retirement. Despite that, Shearer never won a trophy for Newcastle but he wouldn’t have changed it for the world.
Newcastle signed Shearer in 1996 after the Geordie rejected Manchester United, and the rest was history.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, Shearer recalled the two FA Cup finals he played in for Newcastle and a rather awkward situation after losing them.
“We didn’t put up much of a fight against Manchester United (in 1999), Shearer said. When you get to Wembley and you go that far ultimately you’re gonna play a very good team. We played two incredible teams, one that was going for a treble, one going for the double in Arsenal and Man United.
“I also remember, particularly after the first (final) coming home and having the parade on Gosforth High Street. From the Gosforth Park Hotel to the Civic Centre. There were hundreds of thousands of people there. It was pretty embarrassing but it shows you how desperate this place is to win a trophy.”
“If we win, you might not see me for a long time. If we don’t then it’ll be back to normal on the Monday morning.”
Liverpool star Alan Shearer warned Newcastle about may not play
It was confirmed that Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured and will miss Sunday’s final. Other injuries mean Jarell Quansah is likely to replace the England international.
However, it is claimed that Liverpool’s star goalkeeper Alisson Becker may not feature against Newcastle, with Reds boss Arne Slot opting to play Caoimhin Kelleher over the Brazilian.
Reports suggest that Kelleher is a Newcastle target, so Sunday could be an impromptu audition for the Irishman if he features.
Shearer warned Newcastle about Alisson after his heroics between the sticks in Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 first-leg win against PSG, making nine saves.
Whichever goalkeeper plays on Sunday, Newcastle will still have the same objective – bring the cup home.
