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Manchester United get Carabao Cup Final boost with two Newcastle keepers out
Manchester United get a massive boost ahead of their Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle United as two of the Magpies’ goalkeepers are out of contention to play in it (Sky Sports).
First-choice keeper Nick Pope received a straight red card in the league game against Liverpool when he deliberately handled the ball outside his penalty area. One of the three games he will be suspended for is the Carabao Cup Final.
Martin Dubravka, who came on to replace Pope in that game, is cup-tied because he played for Manchester United in this competition before the World Cup.
As a result of that, Eddie Howe is left with two fringe goalkeepers who would be in contention to start the big final at Wembley – Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie.
Karius has had previous nightmares since the last time he played a cup final. The German donned the Liverpool gloves in the 2018 Champions League Final against Real Madrid and made two game-costing errors.
Gillespie, on the other hand, hasn’t played much. Hence, he is going to be rusty. Goalkeeping is one position where rustiness or lack of concentration due to that is an absolute no-no, and that too in a final.
Given how good Pope has been this season and how badly Newcastle would be scrambling to field a keeper next Sunday, it is advantageous for United.
Having an underconfident keeper has the prospect of unsettling the Magpies’ back-line, which can be gotten at by Erik ten Hag’s men.
More Manchester United News:
- Spain ‘want’ Manchester United forward and Argentina U20 international Alejandro Garnacho to switch national allegiance
- Erik ten Hag ‘plotting’ double Manchester United swoop for Yassine Bounou and Castello Lukeba
- Chelsea and Manchester United ‘alerted’ with PSG forward Neymar available
With the form of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes up front, we can test their defence and put some pressure on an understandably nervy goalkeeper on the day. Let’s hope we play well and lift the first silverware in six years.
