Newcastle United host Leicester City in an all-Premier League match on Tuesday night, with a spot in the two-legged semi-finals of the EFL Cup on the line.
The Carabao Cup may not be as prestigious or iconic in English football as the ancient FA Cup, but it is still silverware, and this year some large teams, including both Manchester clubs, are still involved, proving its importance. Newcastle and Leicester have never won this title, and both sets of fans will be thrilled if their teams win anything this season.
While the Foxes have tasted some resounding success in recent times, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield as well as making it into the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League since their title-winning 2015-16 season, Newcastle United fans are even more desperate, having endured barren years without a domestic trophy dating back to 1955.
After the Saudi takeover a little over a year ago, there was a lot of optimism at St James’ Park, but even the most optimistic supporters could not have predicted Newcastle would be third in the standings in the New Year and the top four. Boss Eddie Howe has done a sterling job so far, transforming and morphing players and having the Magpies on song from top to bottom.
However, it was a night to forget at Hillsborough for Howe, his players, and Newcastle United’s traveling supporters after having their FA Cup dreams shattered at the first hurdle itself, with a Josh Windass-inspired Sheffield Wednesday side, who ply their trade in League One, claiming a shock FA Cup triumph against all odds.
The former Bournemouth coach made radical changes to his starting eleven at Sheffield Wednesday, resulting in only the second defeat of this campaign. While the idea of giving fringe players a chance to prove their worth was right, the execution from the supporting cast was not, as Howe’s backup artillery paid the price for missing plentiful, glistening opportunities, ultimately succumbing to a 2-1 setback.
While the sadness is palpable in the camp, Howe and co. have larger fish to fry this season, and a win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup final eight will wash away the bitter taste of their early FA Cup loss.
Newcastle handily defeated Leicester 3-0 at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day, resuming the Premier League following the World Cup break. Brendan Rodgers and his team will be looking for payback and something to cheer about after a poor season thus far.
While Newcastle appears to be on an incredible upward trajectory, Leicester appears to be on the opposite end of the spectrum, a stale group that is no longer able to punch above its weight and is in desperate need of renovation. The Foxes are firmly in the Premier League relegation zone, so Rodgers and co. would do well to surprise their fans with something interesting and off the menu if they secure a place at Wembley.
Howe will almost definitely use his favorite 4-3-3 formation. Martin Dubravka was another who began at Sheffield after his loan at Manchester United was cut short, but he didn’t do himself justice with a poor performance in goal.
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