The inaugural piece of domestic silverware is up for grabs at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as Manchester United and Newcastle United lock horns with the chance to end their respective silverware-less streaks.

The Red Devils thumped Nottingham Forest 5-0 on aggregate to book their tickets to the showpiece event, while Eddie Howe’s rising stars defeated Southampton 3-1 over two legs in the semi-finals.

Erik ten Hag still has a long and arduous journey ahead of him to restore Man United to their former glories, but beating Barcelona and winning a trophy within the space of a few days would be a monumental step in the right direction for the much-admired Dutchman.

Seeing off Aston Villa, Burnley, Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest to make it to their first domestic cup final since the 2017-18 FA Cup, the Red Devils have managed to avoid the upper echelon of English teams to progress to Wembley, but they have gone about their business with professionalism nonetheless.

All eyes will be on Wembley Stadium this Sunday as Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United look to end their six-year wait for silverware in the League Cup final. Still holding hopes of a quadruple-trophy season after defeating Barcelona on Thursday evening, the Red Devils now aim to lift this trophy for a sixth time in what will be their tenth League Cup final appearance.

The national stadium has been a home away from home for United, with this being their 53rd Wembley outing, discounting away games against Tottenham between 2017-2019. That’s more than any other side and with their joint-biggest win in neutral events here coming against none other than Newcastle United in the 1996 Charity Shield (4-0), they’ll be hoping for another dominant display having scored at least twice in ten straight matches and losing just once in their last 20!

In contrast, a three-game winless run (D2, L1) perhaps isn’t the best way for Newcastle to prepare for a first League Cup final since a 2-1 loss to Manchester City in 1976. Club legend Alan Shearer said that lifting a first trophy since 1969 would be “more important” than reaching the Champions League! However to do so, the Magpies must end a record run of eight straight Wembley defeats since winning the 1955 FA Cup final to become the first major trophy-winning side from the North East since Middlesbrough lifted the League Cup in 2004.

Perhaps the biggest worry for Newcastle is the absence of their No.1 keeper Nick Pope due to a straight red card last time out. Third-choice stopper Loris Karius is set for a start and manager Eddie Howe has challenged him to “rewrite the story of his career” after his personal anguish in the 2018 Champions League final defeat with Liverpool.

Players to watch: Marcus Rashford has averaged 1.6 goals per 90 in the League Cup this season and will all but secure the competition’s top-scorer accolade with a sixth strike in as many appearances. It was a brace of goals from local lad Sean Longstaff that booked Newcastle’s ticket to Wembley and his aim now is to emulate Bob Moncur, the highly revered club captain from their 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winning side.

 

Hot stat: Only two of Manchester United’s nine previous League Cup final appearances required extra time.

Manchester United EFL Cup form:

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Manchester United form (all competitions):

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Newcastle United EFL Cup form:

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Newcastle United form (all competitions):

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Manchester United possible starting lineup:

De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford

 

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Karius; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin

Newcastle are not the same defensive force that they were only a few weeks ago, and Man United will need no second invitation to test the gloves of the out-of-practice Karius, but the importance of Guimaraes’s return to the base of midfield cannot be overstated.

A possible injury to Rashford and fatigue from Thursday night will also work against the Red Devils, who are not impenetrable at the back either and may be forced to endure a gruelling 120 minutes of action, but Newcastle’s recent lack of attacking incisiveness could prove decisive as Man United take another step towards a dazzling quadruple.