As you were - Our predicted XI as Newcastle United take on Liverpool for Carabao Cup

It's so close! Newcastle United will take on Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday afternoon for the Carabao Cup. Kick-off is at 4:30pm live on ITV and Sky Sports.

It has been a rollercoaster few weeks riding the high of the impending final, feeling the lows of a couple of defeats and poor performances and seeing the squad weakened through injuries and suspension.

Newcastle come face-to-face with the one side they just can't seem to get the better of in the modern era, but this is Wembley. This is a cup final. It's all different and anything can happen.

We've struggled to guess what Eddie Howe is going to do for weeks leading into this game, but now we feel the absences of Lewis Hall, Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman have pretty much made up his mind for him, which is why we'll see 10 of the 11 that beat West Ham on the field from kick-off tomorrow.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - Martin Dubravka in for Nick Pope was a change we toyed with, but we think Eddie will stick with Pope for the final.

Defenders

Kieran Trippier - Trips' leadership at the back will be vital on Sunday and with Lewis Hall out, he's practically guaranteed to start.

Fabian Schar - If Botman was fit, we'd be expecting him to be part of a back three with Schar and Dan Burn, but it'll be the usual back four tomorrow.

Dan Burn - England's Big Dan Burn has earned his place in this side, and if anyone deserves to lift a trophy for Newcastle United it's the big man from Blyth.

Tino Livramento - We spoke about switching Tino and Tripps over after West Ham, but we think Howe will stick with Tino on the left. Hopefully he's been working on the confidence to whip a ball into the box with his left foot.

Midfielders

Bruno Guimaraes (c) - Captain Bruno is one game away from realising his dream of writing his name into the Newcastle United history books.

Sandro Tonali - A masterful performance on Monday against West Ham. Let's hope he can repeat that against Liverpool, but perhaps with a more accurate final ball.

Joelinton - Back in the Brazil squad, it has been a good week for Joey. Bring that positivity onto that big Wembley pitch!

Forwards

Jacob Murphy - Another boyhood Newcastle United fan who will know what this means to the fans. If he plays like he can do, he can be massive for us.

Alexander Isak - Mr Cool. How we need him to be on top of his game tomorrow!

Harvey Barnes - We could have seen a tweak with Joelinton on the left and Joe Willock in the middle, but Barnes' assist on Monday night probably cemented his spot in the starting XI.

Joe Willock and Callum Wilson will likely get some game time later on in the game and are probably the two closest players we have to game changers available on the bench tomorrow.

If we get on the front foot and press Liverpool like we know we can, we know that's a style of play they aren't comfortable with.

For all of my weeks of negativity, I've not given up hope that we can do this!

HOWAY EDDIE HOWE'S WEMBLEY MAGS!!!!