We'll take the hard way - Newcastle will face Liverpool in Carabao Cup final next month

If Newcastle United are to lift the Carabao Cup this season they are going to have to end a run of rotten results against their ultimate bogey team - Liverpool.

Tottenham Hotspur may have brought a 1-0 advantage with them to Anfield but they didn't bring any passion and capitulated to the Reds on their home turf.

There's nothing more damning, besides the 4-0 scoreline on the night, than the statistic around shots on target. Liverpool managed 10 on target, four of which found the back of the net, while out of Spurs's five shots, not one was on target.

It's a pretty embarrassing performance with so much on the line. I mean, we get it, Spurs' squad is decimated, but surely you can rile up enough passion to make a game out of it, it's a semi-final.

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Liverpool will be favourites so the expectation to win is all on them

Liverpool's emphatic win sets up an exciting Carabao Cup final against Newcastle on 16th March with the Magpies now able to take advantage of that Russian coach Kannybitta Pressureov.

You'd expect that Liverpool are going to be hot favourites to lift the cup now which takes all the pressure off Newcastle and dumps it on their shoulders.

There'll be an expectation again for Liverpool to complete a double/treble/quadruple and this will be their first chance to lift some silverware in the Arne Slot era, so all eyes will be on them.

Newcastle will have some pressure but all eyes will be on Liverpool

Newcastle will once again be able to enjoy the day, however, we'll have that "70 years without a domestic trophy" monkey on our backs that will add some pressure.

As we said earlier tonight, facing Liverpool at Wembley is a new experience so the head to heads at St James' Park and Anfield go out the window.

If we forget about our recent form against Liverpool and treat this for exactly what it is - a one-off, we can beat them. We've got the players, we've got the passion, we've got the ability.

HOWAY EDDIE HOWE'S CUP FINAL MAGS!