Manchester United vs Newcastle United (MUN vs NEW) Carabao League Cup Final 2023 Highlights: League Cup could be start of Man United-Newcastle rivalry
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Live: The finale takes place at Wembley.
It’s fair to say Manchester United and Newcastle have their sights on much bigger prizes than the English League Cup.
Both teams, however, will recognize the significance of lifting the first major trophy of the season and potentially signaling the start of a new era of success for the winner.
Sunday’s final at Wembley is a meeting of two rising forces in the Premier League who will hope to be going head-to-head at the top of the sport for years to come.
Which is why a first piece of silverware could be such an essential building block.
United looks transformed under manager Erik ten Hag, who has guided the 20-time English champions to his first final at the earliest possible point after taking over at the end of last season. It's sparked talk of an unlikely title challenge.
After six years without a trophy, United fans are desperate for something to cheer and hungry for evidence the club is ready to challenge the dominance of fierce rival Manchester City.
For Newcastle, the wait for a major piece of domestic silverware has been considerably longer — 68 years in fact since it won the FA Cup in 1955. And hopes of success had all but faded until Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund bought the club in 2021, making it arguably the richest in world soccer.
Newcastle’s development is possibly quicker than some expected and has come without the sort of exorbitant spending seen from other clubs that have experienced sudden wealth.
Under manager Eddie Howe, a sound, if unspectacular, transfer strategy has put a team that looked set for relegation last season in serious contention for a top-four Champions League qualifying spot.
A ticket into Europe’s elite club competition would open the door for marquee signings and further improvement on the field, with the ultimate aim of challenging for the biggest titles alongside the giants of the game.
While Newcastle’s top-four challenge has slipped in recent weeks, Howe’s team, which will be without suspended goalkeeper Nick Pope, still appears ahead of schedule and a trophy would underline his impressive work so far.
Ten Hag, however, has also exceeded expectations in his first season in charge, especially after such a humbling start to the campaign in which his team lost its opening two games.
Sitting five points off leader Arsenal, third-place United is in contention at the top of the Premier League, while the League Cup gives the Dutchman the chance to win only the club’s fourth trophy since the retirement of iconic former manager Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Louis van Gaal won the FA Cup in 2016, but was fired at the end of that season.
His replacement Jose Mourinho won the League Cup and the Europa League in his first season in 2017, but that trophy double proved to be the height of his reign, which ended when he was fired in 2018.
There is hope among fans that a trophy for Ten Hag would be a genuine pointer to a new period of success, rather than a false dawn, and the League Cup has been used as a platform for winning eras at other clubs in recent years.
The first of Mourinho’s seven trophies at Chelsea was the League Cup in 2005 and it was also Pep Guardiola’s first at City in 2018.
While there is no guarantee it would have a similar impact for either United or Newcastle, it would be confirmation of the progress being made at both clubs.
Ten Hag was hired to bring the good times back to United, while expectations are growing at Newcastle after the influx of money from Saudi Arabia.
It is the League Cup at stake on Sunday, but the final could be a warm-up for much greater challenges between these two clubs going forward.
Manchester United's team players celebrate as they won the English League Cup final soccer match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
And the clock is ticking down. United are almost there. There's a melee in the middle now as Martinez kicks the ball straight at Schar. And it's all over!!! United have their first silverware since 2017!!!
United break now and it was 3 on 2. fernandes in, could have crossed to Sancho but he goes at it himself. Karius makes himnself big and saves!!!
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Trippier with a curling free kick and Joelinton has got his head to it and it just grazes the post and United can clear. Very very close.
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Five minutes have been added on. The wait is agonizing for the United faithful but the players need to keep their head to see it out from here.
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And chance for Newcastle!!! Murphy shoots from afar and look at the swerve from that ball. If that goes inside, De Gea has been beaten comprehensively but it has spun away, just brushing the post.
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5 mins. Just 5 minutes remain between United and their quest for an elusive silverware. Newcastle, meanwhile, are throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the United defence.
Meanwhile, United break, capitalize on a Newcastle mistake and Wan Bissaka hits a shot straight to the goalie.
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United will throw in Jadon Sancho in the mix and Antony will come off. The England international will see off these remaining minutes.
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The substitute Murphy forces a corner now. Can Newcastle get something? Bad delivery and Fernandes tackles a Newcastle player as shouts of penalty are ruled out.
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Newcastle are trying to find something, anything from this encounter but United are just about resolute at the back as De Gea comes out and clears. Subs for Newcastle now as Bruno Guimaraes and Allan Saint-Maximin go off
Rashford gets the ball and is looking threating on the counter. And he finds space on the left flank and shoots with his right foot but Karius parries it away. What a chance. MUN 2-0 NEW
Double substitution for Man Utd. Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay replace Fred and Wout Weghorst. MUN 2-0 NEW
Bodies on the line from United as Newcastle attack. Joelinton is denied twice in front of goal. MUN 2-0 NEW
Saint-Maximin down the left flank twists and turns but AWB does well and steers it away for a corner. Saint-Maximin shouts towards the NUFC fans and calls for a rallying cry. Nothing comes from the corner though. MUN 2-0 NEW
More injury problems for Guimaraes as it seems like he turned his ankle while attempting a sliding tackle on Fernandes’ pass. But Newcastle fans will be happy since he’s back up again. MUN 2-0 NEW
A clumsy push from AWB on Saint-Maximin, Newcastle players call for foul but referee is not having any of that. MUN 2-0 NEW
Wilson thinks he has won a corner after Trippier dinks a ball to the front post, Wilson sticks out a leg & tries to get there before Martinez, & the ball goes behind. Replays suggest it probably was a corner. MUN 2-0 NEW
Botman shields the ball well & makes sure it goes out down the right flank, before going chest to chest with Weghorst. Rashford definitely playing like he’s not 100 per cent. Doing well but looks to be conserving where he can MUN 2-0 NEW
A couple of chances for United right at the start as Fred takes a tame shot after which Antony curls straight at Karius from 20 yards. MUN 2-0 NEW
We are back underway and both the teams have made changes. Alexander Isak replaces Sean Longstaff for Newcastle. Aaron Wan-Bissaka moves into full-back and replaces Diogo Dalot, who was on a yellow. MUN 2-0 NEW
Goals from Casemiro and Rashford keeps United ahead at the break. United started a bit slow but finished that half in total control and thoroughly deserve the lead. Now they need to keep it simple, control the game in the second half and should see this out. The Red Devils are 45 minutes away from their first trophy since 2017. Are they heading for their first trophy of the Ten Hag era? MUN 2-0 NEW
Joelinton booked for a foul on Casemiro. Frustrating half for Newcastle United. MUN 2-0 NEW
Chance for Newcastle as Trippier's cross falls to Burn who heads it wide. MUN 2-0 NEW
GOAL! Marcus Rashford doubles the lead. A long ball is picked up by Rashford who flicks it to Weghorst. The big dutchman plays it back to Rashford, who drives into the box and his deflected shot somehow goes over Karius's head and lands into the net. MUN 2-0 NEW
Fred is booked for that tackle on Longstaff. MUN 1-0 NEW
GOAL! Casemiro Scores. Referee David Coote points to the centre spot to indicate that the goal stands after the VAR review. The United fans erupt in joy. MUN 1-0 NEW
Huge save from DDG! as Longstaff fires a low ball across the face of goal, and falls to Saint-Maximin who shoots but DDG saves. MUN 0-0 NEW
First half and hour exactly like we expected, if not slightly better. Newcastle really compact, but look sharper going forward. United when on the ball finding spaces & causing issues. Growing into the game but the Red Devils need to turn up the pressure even more. MUN 0-0 NEW
Both sides are struggling to open up the opponent's defense. Martinez is okay and ready to come back on. Some brilliant and brave defending. MUN 0-0 NEW
A clash of heads as Almiron passes to Trippier on the overlap and a cross leads to Schar and Martinez colliding
Bruno Guimaraes is receiving treatment. This does not look good for the Brazilian midfielder. He is able to continue for now but does not seem like he can carry on for long. A change is imminent. MUN 0-0 NEW
"We want Glazers out" chant the MUFC fans. Avram Glazer is in attendance at Wembley. MUN 0-0 NEW
Karius is called into action as Antony whips a typical long-range curler. The Brazilian seems to be in some difficulty at the moment. A spot of bother near his groin area. Man United are starting to grow into the match. MUN 0-0 NEW
Wout Weghorst gets a chance as a loose ball falls for him but the shot is mistimed and Karius makes an easy save. MUN 0-0 NEW
Dalot is shown a yellow card for a poor foul on Saint-Maximin. Dalot wasn’t the right call for this match considering Maximin’s speed. Newcastle United are a better team this season. This won’t be an easy ride that’s for sure. MUN 0-0 NEW
This game looks very fast paced. United looking for high gains and not with much of a build up seems to be a worrying aspect at the moment. Newcastle have started this match really quickly and Saint-Maximam and Almiron are looking dangerous. MUN 0-0 NEW
Early corner for United as Burn clears it out. United players surround Karius, but it’s cleared at the near post, and Newcastle breaks. Almiron makes a run, but Shaw intercepts
PEEP! PEEP! Referee David Coote blows the whistle and we are underway. United get the ball rolling.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1ish) de Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.
Substitutes: Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Sabitzer, Heaton, Sancho, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Garnacho.
Newcastle (4-3-3) Karius; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
Substitutes: Lascelles, Ritchie, Targett, Isak, Manquillo, Murphy, Willock, Gillespie, Anderson.
The Wembley walk is always special and one to be savoured. Meanwhile, Wembley remembers Motty as the tributes continue. “Talk little, say a lot” his great advice to Martin Tyler features in our obituary from during the week below
We're just minutes away from kick-off at Wembley as both Manchester United and Newcastle look to re-ignite a new era of success with this season's first piece of silverware.
De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Fred, Casemiro, Fernandes, Antony, Rashford, Weghorst
Subs: Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Malacia, McTominay, Sabitzer, Garnacho, Sancho
It took only two games for some to question whether Lisandro Martinez could make it at Manchester United. In a matter of months, however, the World Cup winner from Argentina has established himself as a bedrock of United’s four-pronged trophy challenge and become one of the most dominant defenders in the English Premier League. “In the beginning, in Argentina, it was the same (to doubt),” Martinez said. “But it’s normal because, in football, it’s not normal to play as a center back with my height.” At 5-foot-9 (1.75 meters), he was dismissed as too small to play center back in the league and United’s shocking 4-0 loss to Brentford in August was evidence to some that he was out of his depth.
"Football is probably 95% your mentality," Rashford told British media. "That gives you the baseline to perform. There are a lot of players that have ability – that's why they play at the top level. But what sets them apart is the mentality. "I've been on both sides of it. I understand the strength of it and the value. I'm concentrating a lot more on keeping myself in that headspace and it's needed in order to win games and trophies."
Winning the League Cup final on Sunday would be the first step in putting Manchester United back where they belong, says Brazilian winger Antony ahead of his side’s Wembley clash with Newcastle United. “When I came here, I said that Manchester United is a huge club and we’re going to put this club back where it belongs — fighting for and winning trophies,” he told the club’s website. “We know that it’ll be a tough task, but we’re aware of how big we are as a club and how good we are. “It’ll be a dream come true, in my first season, if we can win a trophy. I hope that I can keep at this so more glory follows."
It has been a week to remember for Manchester United. After an epic encounter with Barcelona and at least two takeover bids, a 3-0 win against Leicester on Sunday kept Erik ten Hag's team firmly in the race for the Premier League title. Both Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Ratcliffe have vowed to return United to its former glories and it is not yet known how many other bids were submitted to merchant bank Raine Group by the time of Friday’s deadline.
Newcastle forward Miguel Almiron signed a 3 1/2-year contact extension with the Premier League club on Friday. The Paraguay international is Newcastle's top scorer this season with 10 goals — the first time he's hit double digits since joining from MLS club Atlanta United in January 2019. The 29-year-old Almiron recently made his 150th appearance for fifth-place Newcastle, which will face Manchester United in the English League Cup final on Sunday. The club didn't specify when the contract ends.
Karius is set to be thrust back into the spotlight — at Wembley Stadium no less — nearly five years since his last appearance for an English club. The German's gaffes — later shown to be concussion related — were costly in Liverpool's 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final. Karius' potential shot at redemption — manager Eddie Howe hasn't named his starters yet — has come about because Newcastle's top two 'keepers are unavailable. Nick Pope is suspended because of a red card, and backup Martin Dubravka is ineligible because he played in the competition for United earlier this season while on loan.