MANCHESTER UNITED ON THE CUSP OF GLORY
Manchester United secured their spot in the final after defeating Nottingham Forest 5-0 on aggregate, while Eddie Howe's emerging Newcastle United side overcame Southampton 3-1 over two legs in the semi-finals. The highly respected Dutchman, Erik ten Hag, faces a challenging and demanding task of reviving Manchester United to its previous heights. However, securing a win against Barcelona and claiming a trophy in a matter of days would signify a significant and remarkable advancement toward his goal.Manchester United has displayed their professionalism in their journey to the EFL Cup final, having defeated Aston Villa, Burnley, Charlton Athletic, and Nottingham Forest. They have managed to avoid facing tougher English teams in their progress to Wembley, but their achievement of scoring at least two goals in all their EFL Cup matches and keeping clean sheets in their last four is notable.
The possibility of a quadruple offering of trophies is still on the table for Man United, who have been on a nine-game unbeaten streak across all tournaments. They have scored at least twice in each of their last 10 games, including their comeback from Robert Lewandowski's penalty to defeat Barcelona 2-1 in the Europa League on Thursday night.
In addition to their quest for EFL Cup success, Man United is also seeking glory in the FA Cup and challenging Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League. The Red Devils have previously won five of their nine EFL Cup finals and are gearing up for their tenth on Sunday, where they will make history with Erik ten Hag becoming the first Dutch manager to lead a team in an EFL Cup final.
Interestingly, the only time a Dutch manager failed to win an English cup final was when Ruud Gullit's Newcastle lost 2-0 to Man United in the 1998-99 FA Cup final. However, the odds are in favor of Erik ten Hag to avoid a similar outcome in the EFL Cup final.
NEWCASTLE ON THE RISE
Newcastle's rise from the doldrums can be attributed to their diligent transfer business since their takeover, aligning with Financial Fair Play regulations. Despite the influence of their market activity, Eddie Howe's commendable work has not gone unnoticed, and they have secured a trip to Wembley for the first time in 24 years by overcoming Tranmere Rovers, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and Southampton.Newcastle's form in the Premier League has been less than stellar, with four consecutive winless games, and suffering a second top-flight loss of the season to Liverpool in their previous outing. Nevertheless, the 10-man Magpies still managed to expose Liverpool's defensive weaknesses.
Newcastle's record at Wembley has been poor, having lost eight consecutive games at the stadium since their 1955 FA Cup triumph. On the other hand, Man United's 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the 1999 FA Cup final was part of their historic treble that year. Winning on Sunday could potentially spark a similar run of success for Man United, but Newcastle has rightfully earned their place at Wembley. Howe aims to become the first English coach to win the EFL Cup since 2003-04 when now-Man United assistant Steve McClaren led Middlesbrough to victory.
POSSIBLE STARTING LINE-UPS
Manchester United's possible starting lineup:De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford
Newcastle United's possible starting lineup:
Karius; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle United
Newcastle's defensive prowess has diminished in recent weeks, and Man United will undoubtedly seek to challenge their goalkeeper, Karius, who has been out of practice. However, the return of Guimaraes to the base of midfield for Newcastle is crucial and should not be underestimated.Additionally, the Red Devils may be fatigued from their Thursday night game, and their defense is not invincible, so they could potentially face a difficult 120 minutes of play. Nevertheless, Newcastle's recent inability to create scoring opportunities could be the deciding factor as Man United aim to move closer to their ambitious quadruple goals.
