Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is looking forward to a “mouth-watering” Carabao Cup final against Liverpool next month.
The Magpies’ opponents for the Wembley showpiece on March 16 were confirmed on Thursday night as Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders after dismantling Tottenham 4-0 at Anfield to secure a 4-1 aggregate victory.
Howe, whose side booked their spot in the final by beating Arsenal 4-0 over two legs, says it will be a fantastic occasion next month but urged his side to focus on the “immediate challenges” first, starting with the FA Cup fourth round this weekend when they travel to Birmingham on Saturday.
The Toon boss said: “It’s a great game. Liverpool did what they do at Anfield – it was a really good performance. Whoever we were going to face would have been a tough game but to play Liverpool is a mouth-watering tie.
“We’re really looking forward to it but we need to put it to bed and focus on the immediate challenges.
“The biggest challenge is to eradicate the final from our brains. When we’re playing the likes of Liverpool, Man City and Nottingham Forest, very important and difficult games.”
It is the second time in three years Newcastle appear in the final of the competition after losing 2-0 to Manchester United in 2023.
“I think we will be doing things slightly differently, but not from a superstitious viewpoint,” Howe added.
“I was more superstitious as a player, as a manager I tend to look at things slightly differently. I’ve become a lot more free in myself. I’ve got to get the players in the best condition and let fate do the rest of the work.”
Team news: Botman to miss Birmingham game
Eddie Howe on Birmingham City:
“We respect them, Chris Davies has done a brilliant job. Every time you go to Birmingham, you realise the size of the club. It is a huge football club with a brilliant supporter base.
It is a really good ground to play at. We see this as a big… pic.twitter.com/iRpXmIuQ3u
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 7, 2025
Howe said Sven Botman will miss Saturday’s visit to the League One leaders with a knee issue that is not thought to be serious having only just returned from a cruciate ligament injury.
“I don’t think he’ll be available this weekend. He’s taken a knock to the opposite knee to his ACL injury,” Howe said.
“It isn’t a serious injury but it’ll keep him out of Birmingham before we assess him next week.”
‘PSR has changed our recruitment strategy’
Newcastle did not sign any players during the recently closed January transfer window and Howe said the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules means they are focusing more on developing talents rather than buying ready-made stars.
He said: “Making stars is something that the club has had a vision to do since I arrived. The guys in the other building [academy] can really help develop and flourish [players] and nurture them into the first team.
“With PSR, I think we are probably more weighted to that direction. If you can bring one or two gems through then it can have a massive difference and help try and achieve everything we want to here.
“There is still room for signing established players and there has to be because of the size club that we are. It is a mix of both really.”