Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is confirmed to start in goal for Newcastle United in their Carabao Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley today.
Released by Liverpool in the summer after loan spells at the likes of Besiktas and Union Berlin, Karius was thrown a lifeline by Newcastle with a role as third choice goalkeeper. Today marks a remarkable turnaround for a player who many thought would never see top-flight football again as a few underwhelming years – so returning for a cup final is a huge stage to be back in the limelight.
The fixture should prove highly motivational for Karius for a few reasons.
Further, Karius will be looking to make amends compared to the last final he played in for an English club. Karius’ last match was the infamous 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in 2018 when his errors accounted for two of the three goals conceded by The Reds that evening.
As well as that, being a former Liverpool player, Karius would find it incredibly sweet if his redemption story came at the expense of Liverpool’s arch rivals Manchester United.
Today’s final is a chance for both teams to end their recent trophy droughts.
Manchester United are looking for their first trophy in six years, when they defeated Ajax in the UEFA Europa League final in 2017 under Jose Mourinho.
Newcastle United are looking even further back, with their last trophy coming all the way back in 1969 with the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Newcastle’s last major domestic prize came in 1955 when they lifted the FA Cup.
Newcastle line-up in full: Karius, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burns, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Joelinton, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Wilson
Manchester United line-up in full: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Fred, Casemiro, Antony, Fernandes, Rashford, Weghorst
