Wembley Stadium plays host as Manchester United and Newcastle United battle it out in the 2022/23 Carabao Cup final on Sunday, February 27. The importance of such a game is obvious, and both clubs will be desperate to lift the first domestic trophy of the campaign.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Carabao Cup Final Predictions
🗓️ 26.02.23@ManUtd 🆚 @NUFC #EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/V23zWPDoxP
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 1, 2023
Manchester United Current Run of Form
Manchester United, spearheaded by the impressive Marcus Rashford, come into the final in terrific form. Most recently, the Red Devils came through a difficult UEFA Europa League tie against Spanish giants Barcelona, progressing to the next round after a 3-2 aggregate victory.
However, their fine form extends further back than that. Erik ten Hag’s men have won three out of their last five fixtures in all competitions, drawing the other two matches. In that time, they have also kept two clean sheets, showcasing their ability to be effective at both ends of the pitch – a characteristic present in any cup final-winning side.
Newcastle United Current Run of Form
Along with Arsenal, Newcastle have been one of the surprise packages this season. The Magpies currently sit one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with a game in hand over the North London club. Despite that, their form has been somewhat stuttering of late.
They have won just two of their last five fixtures in all competitions, both of which came in their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final tie against the Premier League’s bottom side Southampton. Their most recent outing, a 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool, also ended in disaster as first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope received a red card, and will miss this match as a result.
Recent Head-to-Head
The recent statistics do not paint the best of pictures for Newcastle ahead of this final. In the last five meetings between these two sides, the Magpies are winless, with Manchester United securing three victories. However, given that the last two have both ended in draws, there is perhaps reason to believe that Eddie Howe’s men have begun to close the distance between the two sides.
The most recent result was a 0-0 draw, and neutral fans will be hoping to see a more entertaining affair this time around.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Prediction
When it was first confirmed that these two sides would meet in the final, it appeared to be a very difficult encounter to predict. Both teams are enjoying impressive seasons and will have been full of confidence coming into this game. However, with Nick Pope suspended, and Martin Dubravka cup-tied, Loris Karius will likely be between the stick for Newcastle on the day.
That is a significant disadvantage for the Magpies and tips the scale in Manchester United’s favour. However, Ten Hag’s side are not without their own concerns. When asked whether Marcus Rashford would be available for the game, the Dutchman worryingly replied “I don’t know.” The 25-year-old is a crucial player for the Red Devils, but they should still have enough firepower to take advantage of Newcastle.s goalkeeper situation and lift the trophy.
Current Best Odds: Manchester United vs Newcastle United
The bookmakers appear to agree, with Manchester United coming at 4/7 favourites to lift the trophy, whilst Newcastle are priced at 5/4.
