This weekend the very first domestic trophy of the new season (if you discount the Community Shield) will be up for grabs at Wembley Stadium as Manchester United take on Newcastle United in the final of the Carabao Cup.
Last season saw a rather dour 0-0 draw between Liverpool and Chelsea, before Liverpool went on to claim the trophy with a win on penalties.
However, fans will be hoping for a rather more entertaining and goal packed match this weekend between two teams who have not been short of goals this season.
The game kicks off at 4.30pm UK Time on Sunday 26th February and currently bet365 Sport have Manchester United as the 6/5 favourites to win the trophy, with Newcastle 23/10 and a draw at 90 minutes also rated a 23/10 chance.
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So are those odds about right, or have one team been done a little disservice by the bookies here? Well, let’s take a closer look at the big game and come up with some tips that we think offer punters a good value bet on Sunday.
Referee David Coote has refereed a total of 23 games in all competitions this season so far and across those games he has issued 86 yellow cards and just two red cards.
Manchester United have the better record of the two teams, appearing in nine finals in this competition since it was first contested in 1961.
The Red Devils have won five finals, in 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010 and most recently in 2017.
They were also beaten finalists in 1983, 1991, 1994 and 2003.
Newcastle United’s record is far more modest in this tournament as they have appeared in the final just once previously, losing 2-1 to Manchester City in 1976.
They both trail Liverpool who are the most successful team in this tournament with the Reds winning the trophy nine times, including last season, as well as finishing as runner up four times.
Most Recent Game – Man Utd 0-0 Newcastle (16th October 2022)
This will be the second Wembley Cup Final contested between the two with Manchester United winning the 1999 FA Cup Final by a 2-0 scoreline.
Manchester United will be without Donny van der Beek and Christian Eriksen for the Carabao Cup Final, but another midfielder, Casemiro will play after the club decided not to appeal his suspension for being sent off against Crystal Palace recently.
Anthony Martial, Antony and Harry Maguire should all be fit to play after slight knocks, but whether they will be selected by Erik Ten Hag for the game remains to be seen.
It will be interesting to see who United play in goal for this game with Tom Heaton starting the second leg of the semifinal at Old Trafford, while David de Gea played in the first leg in Nottingham, but it would be a huge surprise if de Gea does not get the nod for the Final.
With Marcus Rashford in fine form of late, the current joint-top goalscorer in this competition will be looking for a goal here to become the leading scorer in this competition this year and few would bet against him getting it.
Probable Manchester United Team (4-2-3-1) – GK – De Gea, DR – Wan Bissaka, DL – Shaw, DC – Varane, DC – Martinez, MC – Casemiro, MC – Fred, AMC – Bruno Fernandes, AMR – Sancho, AML – Antony, AC – Rashford
The massive news for Newcastle United is that goalkeeper Nick Pope will be suspended for the final after his sending off against Liverpool at the weekend, furthermore his backup Martin Dubravka is cup-tied having played for Manchester United in this competition earlier this season.
With Karl Darlow on loan at Hull City for the 2022/23 season, that means fourth choice keeper Loris Karius or fifth choice keeper Mark Gillespie will have to handle goalkeeping duties on Sunday, with reports in the press suggesting Karius could get the nod for his first game in Newcastle colours.
More positive news for Newcastle is that Bruno Guimaraes is set to return to the team after serving his three-match ban for a sending off in the semifinal second leg of this competition with Southampton.
The Brazilian has been sorely missed since then as Newcastle have picked up just two points in the three games he missed.
Emil Krafth will miss out due to an ACL injury but Joe Willock and Joelinton both should be fit to play after picking up thigh injuries in their last game.
Probable Newcastle Team – (4-2-3-1) – GK – Karius, DR – Trippier, DL – Burn, DC – Schar, DC – Botman, MC, Longstaff, MC Guimaraes, AML – Saint-Maximin, AMR – Joelinton, AMC – Almiron, AC Wilson.
A look at the recent record between these two teams does not make good reading for Newcastle fans as they have won just one of the last nine between the two, drawing just two more in that same period, although those two draws have been in the last two games between the two.
Certainly, recent games between the two have been more closely contested, but I think at the present moment Newcastle have been in a little dip in form, while Manchester United have been playing very well and scoring a fair few goals too.
Unlike last year’s final, I do think we will see goals here at the weekend but I feel that the majority will go the way of Manchester United.
Here’s my tips for the big game on Sunday.
Tune in on Sunday to see who takes home the first silverware of the 2022/23 season.
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