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Pundits Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have offered their predictions for the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle United

Liverpool will aim to pick up their first silverware of what is shaping up to be a glorious first season under Arne Slot later today.

The Reds take on Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley (4.30pm kick-off)

Slot's side suffered disappointment on Tuesday when they exited the Champions League at the last-16 stage after a penalty shoot-out defeat to an excellent Paris Saint-Germain team at Anfield.



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But there is no simply no time or need to remain down in the dumps.

Liverpool will be crowned Premier League champions come April or May barring a massive slip-up and this afternoon they could retain the trophy they won last year for a record 10th time.

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Standing in their way is a Newcastle side who have to go back a bit longer for their last domestic honour.

Seventy years ago, in fact, when they won the FA Cup in 1955.

The Reds will be firm favourites and they ran out comfortable winners when the two teams met at Anfield in the Premier League last month.

But the Magpies will be desperate to end their long trophy drought and, even without some big players missing like former Everton winger and boyhood Liverpool fan Anthony Gordon, they are a force to be reckoned with on their day.

Hopefully that day is not today.

Well, according to Chris Sutton and Paul Merson, it's going to be close.

Sutton, a Premier League title winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, believes the Reds will run out 3-2 winners.

Writing for BBC Sport, he said: "We all know how much it would mean for Newcastle to end their long wait for a major trophy, but they have not beaten Liverpool since December 2015, a run of 17 games.

"When you consider the Magpies are without Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon - their entire first-choice on the left flank - I really don't see that run ending at Wembley.

"I am expecting Tino Livramento to replace Hall and try to stop Mohamed Salah.

They are without Trent Alexander-Arnold and, with Conor Bradley likely to be sidelined too, they will need to find someone to fill in at right-back.

"The midfield battle will be key, because Newcastle are very good in that area, especially now Joelinton is back alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, but it is one of Liverpool's strengths too.

"Arne Slot's biggest issue is how the Reds will react to the disappointment of going out of the Champions League against Paris St-Germain, but I don't see them having a hangover from that shootout defeat.

"My gut feeling is that we will see a few goals, and Liverpool will win in 90 minutes."

Arsenal legend Merson, however, believes we will see an extra 30 minutes - and then some.

Writing for Sportskeeda, he said: "I’m someone who always gives teams a chance in games, but I didn’t give that to Newcastle in this fixture a few weeks ago!
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