A 2-0 defeat at Anfield to Liverpool on Wednesday night has left Newcastle United with concerns, not just about the scoreline, but also the fitness of key striker Alexander Isak ahead of their highly anticipated Carabao Cup final against the same opponents.
The absence of Isak, sidelined with a groin injury, was keenly felt as Liverpool secured a comfortable victory through goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
The result extended Liverpool’s Premier League lead and served as a stark reminder of their quality, just weeks before the two sides meet again at Wembley for the cup final on March 16th.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, while disappointed with the loss, remained optimistic about Isak’s recovery. “It goes without saying how important he is for us and you could see that,” Howe stated. “It was a late decision, he just didn’t feel right with his groin. He didn’t want to take the risk and we have big games coming up. We certainly hope he will be back for the final, we don’t envisage it as a big thing.”
The injury to Isak, however, has inevitably added an element of uncertainty to Newcastle’s preparations for their first major final in over 50 years.
The striker’s pace and clinical finishing are crucial to Newcastle’s attacking threat, and his potential absence would be a significant blow.
In the aftermath of the Anfield clash, Howe addressed the broader implications of the defeat on the upcoming final.
“I don’t know. I am sure there will be things we look at and they look at,” he said, acknowledging the tactical insights both teams would gain. “Analyzing this game will help us for the final but then Liverpool will say exactly the same as well. It is a high quality team with good players in all areas and you can see why it is doing so well.”
Howe was particularly critical of his team’s defending in the goals they conceded. “The two goals we conceded, we should never have conceded from those situations. We had bodies back and just stood off and didn’t mark them. I was really disappointed with that aspect of our play.”
Despite the defensive lapses, Howe praised his team’s spirit and determination. “But in between boxes we were competitive. It wasn’t our best performance from an attacking sense but I thought we had moments but the final ball let us down. There weren’t a bundle of chances for us and the ones we did get we didn’t make the most of. I thought we had good ball in dangerous areas.”
He also noted a positive improvement in the team’s mental resilience. “I was pleased with the psychology of the team. But it was a big improvement on our last away performance.”
