Football
Paul Merson & Chris Sutton Agree on Liverpool vs. Newcastle Carabao Cup Final Prediction
The pundits have been having their say ahead of the Carabao Cup final at Wembley 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.
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.
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. But what do the pundits think? 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. Livramento is mobile and quick, but I don’t think he will keep Salah quiet all game.
“It won’t be easy for Liverpool, though. 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! Now I think they have a chance, though.
“I think this game will end 1-1 and go to penalties. If I had to pick a side to win on penalties, I’d choose Liverpool. I’m not only saying that because I know Liverpool will turn up for this game and I can’t say the same for Newcastle!
“Liverpool have been in this situation before and they know their way around finals. Newcastle, on the other hand, will have a few nerves to handle if the game goes deep like I expect it to.
“I guess it all comes down to whether Newcastle can turn up for this clash knowing and believing they’ve got every chance of beating Liverpool.”
Football
‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer
Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.
The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.
In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.
The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.
Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.
Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.
Football
Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider
Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.
In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.
The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.
With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.
Football
Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.
A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.
Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.
Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.
Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.
After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.
Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.
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