Eddie Howe: Newcastle's 'chance to make Carabao Cup history' against Liverpool

A victory at Wembley would end the club's 54-year wait for a major trophy, with their last triumph being the European Fairs Cup in 1969. Their most recent domestic silverware came in the 1955 FA Cup, and since then, they have lost three finals in the same competition, as well as two League Cup finals. The most recent defeat was against Manchester United in 2023.

"We want to break that wait for a trophy," Howe said during a press conference on Friday. "It's not about focusing on the negative. We're looking at it as an opportunity to make history and be remembered positively."

He added, "That's not easy in this job. I want the players to see it that way, to attack the game, and show a strong performance."

Howe, 47, guided Newcastle to the 2023 Carabao Cup final in his first full season in charge. It marked the club's first major final in 24 years, but they were overpowered in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. Howe, however, believes his team has made significant progress since then.

"We've grown more comfortable in bigger games," he said. "That's been a big focus since I've been here. Big game experience should work in our favor when we need it most."

"We've stayed competitive in important matches. We have adaptability in our style but also a clear method. How we represent ourselves in and out of possession will be crucial," he added.

Howe also noted that controlling emotion would be key to success in the final: "You need to harness the excitement and consider the 'what-ifs.' If you're too emotional, you won't perform at your best. It's about finding that perfect balance. We have a lot of experienced players who have been in big games before."

Newcastle will be without key player Anthony Gordon, who scored in both legs of their semifinal against Arsenal but is suspended for the final after being sent off in their FA Cup match against Brighton earlier this month. Additionally, defenders Lewis Hall and Sven Botman are also unavailable after undergoing surgery.

"Losing such important players is always tough, but we have to respond and come back stronger as a team," Howe said.

"We've focused on reinforcing our core strengths. The team spirit is excellent, and that's why the win at West Ham was so vital. Everything is positive."

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