Liverpool v Newcastle: Carabao Cup final preview – including Arne Slot and Eddie Howe
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.”
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