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This Sunday, Wembley Stadium will host a Carabao Cup final laden with contrasting narratives as Premier League leaders Liverpool face Newcastle United in a match that represents vastly different ambitions for the two clubs.

The 4:30 PM kickoff pits Arne Slot’s dominant Liverpool side, seeking their 11th League Cup triumph, against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, desperate to end a 70-year trophy drought that has defined generations of Tyneside supporters.

Liverpool enter Sunday’s final in conflicting circumstances – dominating the Premier League with a 13-point advantage but nursing the wounds of Tuesday’s Champions League elimination on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Reds’ path to Wembley has been navigated through an all-Premier League gauntlet, dispatching West Ham, Brighton, Southampton, and Tottenham to reach their second consecutive League Cup final.

Newcastle’s journey to Wembley began in the second round with a penalty shootout victory over Nottingham Forest, followed by wins against AFC Wimbledon, Chelsea, and Brentford before an impressive semifinal triumph over Arsenal.

Having fallen at the final hurdle against Manchester United in this competition two years ago, Eddie Howe’s side arrives determined to avoid a repeat disappointment.

Both sets of squads have injury concerns with Arne Slot confirming today that Trent Alexander-Arnold is out of contention.

Meanwhile, Alexander Isak has come out today to deny any concerns that he could miss the clash due to injury.

But the Magpies are still missing four players for the clash, and as a result may look to their youth to fill in the gaps.

As a result, academy prospect Ben Parkinson has been spotted training with the first team as Eddie Howe’s squad prepares for Sunday according to reports.

The 20-year-old forward, who joined Newcastle’s academy at age seven, has been in impressive form for the club’s Under-21s this season, registering nine goals and an assist in 14 appearances.

Parkinson, who can play as both a striker and right winger, has made just one competitive senior appearance for Newcastle – a Premier League debut against Bournemouth in November 2023.

The Durham-born striker only recently returned to action, scoring in Newcastle U21s’ 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough last week.

While his inclusion in first-team training suggests Howe’s willingness to integrate academy talent in the clash, Parkinson is unlikely to feature in Sunday’s final against Liverpool

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