Harvey Barnes’ Statement to Howe Before Sunday’s Cup Final Following a Challenging Season
Eddie Howe has received a timely selection boost ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
Anthony Gordon will serve the second of his three-match suspension for violent conduct, while both Lewis Hall and Sven Botman will be unavailable due to injuries.
As a result, Newcastle’s left-sided options are limited, making Harvey Barnes a strong contender to fill the void.
Barnes, who has endured a challenging season, has shared his thoughts on his fitness and readiness for the big game.
Barnes Fit, Strong, and Ready to Start
On Monday night, Eddie Howe’s decision to start Harvey Barnes on the left wing in Gordon’s absence seemed to hint at his potential involvement in the final.
Some had suggested that Joe Willock or Joelinton could take up the role, but Barnes seized the opportunity, providing a crucial assist for Bruno Guimarães’ winning goal.
Following his first Premier League start in three months, Barnes reflected on his return to action and his fitness heading into Sunday’s showdown.
“It’s been a difficult season, but it was just great to be back out there,” Barnes said after Newcastle’s win against West Ham.
“I enjoyed starting a Premier League game again—it had been a while.
Personally, getting a good amount of minutes, contributing to a goal, and having some nice moments gave me a confidence boost heading into the weekend.
“I’ve recovered well from my injury. It’s tough when you’re not playing regularly, so fitness builds up game by game.
But I felt strong and fit out there, which is important as we head into such a big match.”
The Left Side Will Be Crucial on Sunday
With Hall and Gordon unavailable, Howe has had to rethink his tactical approach.
However, Newcastle’s plan for the left side will be crucial in navigating the final.
Tino Livramento has shown his defensive abilities in one-on-one situations, and he will need to be at his best when facing Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool’s star winger has been their biggest attacking threat this season, registering an astonishing 44 goal involvements in the Premier League.
Neutralizing Salah will be key to Newcastle’s chances.
Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Arne Slot has his own selection headaches.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of the final after sustaining an ankle injury against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Additionally, Connor Bradley and Joe Gomez are unavailable, leaving Liverpool short of options on the right side of their defense.
As a result, Jarell Quansah, a natural centre-back, is expected to fill in at right-back. This presents a potential weakness that Newcastle could look to exploit.
Barnes, who should be brimming with confidence after his assist against West Ham, will have a great opportunity to test Liverpool’s makeshift right-side defense and create problems in the final third.
With Barnes fit and firing, and Livramento prepared for a tough defensive battle, Newcastle will look to make the most of their left flank to compete with Liverpool in Sunday’s high-stakes clash.
