Exclusive: Former Newcastle Star Reveals Tactical Blueprint to Beat Liverpool in Carabao Cup Final

Former Newcastle United ace Warren Barton is confident the club can end 70 years or hurt by beating Liverpool in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

The Magpies are gunning to win their first domestic trophy since 1955 when they take on the Premier League-leading Reds in the capital.

And Barton, who enjoyed a distinguished Premier League career – seven years of which were with Newcastle – believes long-overdue silverware would be a welcome reward for the club’s suffering supporters.

“I think playing a high-tempo game against Liverpool suits us, we’ve got nothing to lose,” stressed Barton in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com. 

“When we go toe-to-toe with sides, I think that’s when we’re at our best."

“We have got an energy about us that we can definitely over-run teams."

“We’re relentless when we push forward, we show lots of energy and scare teams."

“I think we find it difficult when teams sit deep with a low block, like Bournemouth who we lost surprisingly too this season."

“Teams like Fulham do that, they make life difficult for you and then catch you on the sucker-punch."

“But we know Liverpool are going to come at you – and you want them to come at you."

“We’ve obviously got to be careful with Liverpool with the pace and quality they’ve got, but before they used to be a lot more direct."

“We know how good they are, but at the end of the day it’s a one off, it’s a final and Newcastle will really be up for it – and we’re a really good team, we shouldn’t forget that.”

SECOND TIME LUCKY 

Newcastle and Liverpool drew 3-3 when they clashed in a Premier League thriller at St James’ Park earlier in the season, but the Reds triumphed 2-0 in the return fixture at Anfield last month.

But Barton, who was twice an FA Cup runner-up with the Magpies in the 1997-98 and 1998-1999 season, is backing his former club to rise to the occasion having suffered an agonising 2-0 loss to Manchester United in the 2023 Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

“Under this coach [Arne Slot] they’ll a little bit more refined than under the last manager [Jurgen Klopp], if it’s not on then they switch to the other side and are patient when they play,” added Barton.

“However, they do push their full-backs on and that leaves their centre-halves vulnerable."

“They’ve got arguably the best centre-half in the world in Virgil van Dijk and, probably the most important player at Liverpool right now for me, he’s a phenomenal player."

“But Isak is going to take people on and he’ll cause Liverpool a real threat."

“For me, though, the game will be won in midfield. That’s a key area."

“Eddie has realty fine-tune our midfield, with a holding midfield player to allow [Bruno] Guimaraes to push on, has really paid dividends for us. It’s going to be a really interesting battle."

“And obviously you’ve got to try and keep Mo Salah quiet, which is going to be really difficult."

“But at the end of the day it’s a great test. It’s a great final and one which everyone is looking forward too."

“It’s two great clubs with two great sets of supporters through thick and thin."

“And there’s a lot of respect between the two clubs with Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish and their links with both clubs, as well as players like Peter Beardsley."

“One thing’s for sure, it will be a great atmosphere.”