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Eddie Howe reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Eddie Howe has questioned whether Liverpool’s win over Newcastle United will impact the forthcoming Wembley showdown – but is confident the absent Alexander Isak will be fit for the game.

Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister earned the Reds a 2-0 Premier League home win on Wednesday to move 13 points clear at the top of the table.

The game was a dress rehearsal for the League Cup final on March 16, with Newcastle aiming for their first silverware in more than half-a-century.

And asked if the defeat could influence the Wembley date, Howe said: “I don’t know.

I am sure there will be things we look at and they look at.

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“We will certainly take things away, we know they are a top quality team and have shown previously we have the quality to hurt them.

“Analysing this game will help us for the final but then Liverpool will say exactly the same as well.

They are a high quality team with good players in all areas and you can see why they are doing so well.

“It wasn’t about withholding cards (for the final), it was about winning the game.

Let’s see what we do in the final.”

Of the game, Howe added: “I thought we were okay tonight, I thought we played pretty well.

But it was a big improvement on our last away performance.”

Newcastle were dealt a blow before kick-off when star striker Alexander Isak was ruled out with a groin injury, although Howe played down fears he could be absent at Wembley.

“It goes without saying how important he is for us and you could see that,” said the Newcastle boss.
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