Carabao Cup

NEWCASTLE look set to turn to forgotten man Loris Karius in the Carabao Cup final next Sunday after starter Nick Pope was shown a red card against Liverpool.The Toon play Manchester United at Wembley next weekend and all was looking rosey heading into the cup final with main man Bruno Guimaraes returning from a three-game suspension just in time.
Nick Pope was sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside the boxCredit: Reuters
The keeper was shown a straight red card and will be suspended for next Sunday’s finalCredit: Getty
Loris Karius is likely to be the man called upon to start the finalCredit: Getty
But Eddie Howe’s men were dealt a MASSIVE blow as starting keeper Pope was shown a straight red card in Saturday’s clash with Liverpool.
With the Reds already 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, Pope was then sent off for handling the ball well outside his penalty area.
Trying to head the ball, the England international got it all wrong and handled the ball instead.
His intervention stopped a potential third Liverpool goal being scored by Mo Salah and saw him dismissed with no complaints.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
But with Pope now suspended for the final, Toon fans quickly turned their attention to who will fill in at Wembley and realised they’d be relying on forgotten man Karius.
That’s because regular backup goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who came on after Pope was sent off, is cup tied having played for Man Utd in the Carabao Cup earlier this season before being recalled from his loan.
Another option might have been Karl Darlow, but he was loaned to Hull in January.
Karius is yet to play for the Magpies this season, and hasn’t played a competitive game since February 2021 – a staggering gap of TWO YEARS.
Most read in Football
Loris Karius has a glam girlfriend in the form of Italian TV presenter Diletta LeottaCredit: Instagram @dilettaleotta
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
His last game for an English club was his famously calamitous performance in the 2018 Champions League final for Liverpool – after which he never played for the club again.
One fan said on Twitter: “Karius is going to be Newcastle’s goalkeeper for the final I’m crying.”
Another tweeted: “If Pope is suspended and Dubravka cup tied, you’re not telling me that Loris Karius is going to be starting a major cup final for Newcastle I’m howling.”
One fan joked: “Karius has a good record in cup finals, right?”
Another said: “Karius man. I’m having heart palpitations.”
The ex-Liverpool keeper is loved up with LeottaCredit: The Mega Agency
Diletta has a legion of fans on her Instagram pageCredit: Instagram
Others have said that Karius will be having flashbacks to the 3-1 Champions League final loss to Real Madrid in which he made two awful clangers.
Despite that horror performance in the 2018 showpiece, his former manager Jurgen Klopp has backed his fellow countryman to come good for Newcastle.
“You can absolutely rely on him there’s no doubt about that he’s a great goalie that’s why Newcastle signed him,” Klopp said after the game.
‘But of course, unlucky for Nick Pope in that moment, really unlucky.”
Karius is currently dating stunning Italian TV presenter Diletta Leotta – but it remains to be seen whether she will be in the Wembley stands cheering on her man against Manchester United.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe wouldn’t be drawn on who would get the nod out of Karius or fourth choice keeper Mark Gillespie against the Red Devils.
But he revealed either will be ready for the occasion.
“They’ve started games away from competitive action in several friendlies and training games. I’d say they’re match ready,” Howe said after the final whistle.
Read More on The Sun
“I would have confidence in them, that’s what they’re in the squad for. They’ve both been very competitive and part of our group all season. I have full confidence.
“I feel really sorry for Nick [Pope]. It’s a very difficult one, he’s come out and slightly misjudged the ball, I suppose technically it is a handball, I don’t know the rules on the red card.” More

NICK POPE is OUT of next week’s Carabao Cup final after his crazy red card against Liverpool.The Newcastle goalkeeper came flying out of his area to rase Mo Salah to a long ball by Alisson.
Nick Pope was sent off against Liverpool in bizarre scenesCredit: Getty
He completely misjudged the ball and handled out of his areaCredit: Getty
Anthony Taylor showed the red card which rules him out of the Carabao Cup finalCredit: Reuters

But as he leapt forward to try and head it away, he completely misjudged the ball and grabbed it with his arm – before booting it away and wiping out his own defender.
Anthony Taylor had no choice but to show the red card.
And that means Pope, 30, will be slapped with a one-match domestic ban – ruling him out of the Wembley showdown with Manchester United next weekend.
Martin Dubravka came on for 20-year-old midfielder Elliot Anderson at St James’ Park with just 22 minutes played – and the Magpies already 2-0 down.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
But Dubravka, 34, cannot play in the Carabao Cup final because he is cup-tied… after featuring for the Red Devils during his Old Trafford loan spell.
Karl Darlow looks set to be unavailable because he is out on loan at Hull City.
It means Loris Karius – Liverpool’s blunder goalkeeper in the 2018 Champions League final – will likely have to go between the sticks to try and stop Marcus Rashford and co.
Toon also have former academy talent Mark Gillespie on their books with the 30-year-old yet to make a senior appearance since returning to the club from Motherwell in 2020.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Karius, 29, has not played a competitive match since a 1-1 draw for Union Berlin during a loan spell from Anfield on February 28, 2021 – almost exactly two years before the final.
Pope conceded just one goal in five League Cup matches this season – Che Adams’ long-range strike in the semi-final – to help book Newcastle’s place in a major final for the first time since 1999. More

CASEMIRO will be available for the Carabao Cup final after Manchester United decided NOT to appeal his suspension. The Brazilian midfielder, 30, was sent off on Saturday after a VAR check revealed Casemiro had has hands around Will Hughes’ neck during a melee against Crystal Palace.
Casemiro will miss Man Utd’s next three Premier League fixturesCredit: Getty
Casemiro was dismissed for having his hands around Will Hughes neckCredit: Getty
He was then dismissed by Andre Marriner upon the advice of Video Assistant Referee Tony Harrington.
United held on to win the game 2-1 despite being down to 10 men, but Casemiro’s importance to the team cannot be overstated.
This led to Erik ten Hag and Co considering whether to appeal his red card to try and make him available for the double-header against Leeds and the fixture against Leicester.
Ten Hag admitted the club were considering an appeal, but ultimately opted against it.
READ MORE ON MAN UTD
Speaking on the suspension, the Dutchman said: “Consider [appealing ban], yeah.
“Still it’s for me not the right decision but I don’t think we have a chance in a legal process.
“I always have to play with the players who are available and we have a squad, we have many good players in our squad who are also not playing in the starting XI and I have to do it. After a game I can’t say Casemiro is not there.
If the Red Devils had appealed the ban, there was a chance of Casemiro being handed a further one-match suspension.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
This would have ruled him out of the Carabao Cup final on February 26 and denied United an instrumental cog in their system against top-four rivals Newcastle.
However, Casemiro will be available to feature in the Europa League when United face off against Spanish giants Barcelona.
Furthermore, David De Gea reckons United have the perfect man in Marcel Sabitzer to replace Casemiro in the next few games.
Casemiro will only be able to play against Barcelona until the Carabao Cup final More

MANCHESTER UNITED star Jadon Sancho has uploaded a emotional message on social media after his return to action. The winger made his first appearance for Erik ten Hag’s side since late October on Wednesday, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup semi-final win over Nottingham Forest.
Jadon Sancho had a big smile on his face as he made his first appearance back after a tough time away from footballCredit: PA
Sancho took a break from football to focus on his mental well-being and after getting a huge ovation from the Old Trafford crowd, Sancho thanked fans for their kindness.
He wrote on Instagram: “Wow! Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for the support I have received over the past few weeks, especially to the fans.
“My focus is to give my all to my team and the club.
“I’m so happy to be back out on the pitch, see you soon.”
READ MORE ON MAN UTD
Sancho was a regular in the Man Utd line-up at the beginning of the campaign but managed just three goals and one assist, coming off the back of a tough first season at the club.
The 22-year-old missed out on a place in England’s World Cup squad and consequently took a break from social media.
With his confidence low, Sancho was sent to the Netherlands to work on his physical and mental health alone.
He then returned to Man Utd in late December as domestic football resumed and Ten Hag did not rush him back.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
The former Borussia Dortmund star was instead given an individual training programme, practising away from the rest of the squad before eventually joining his team-mates again.
Sancho and Ten Hag looked thrilled as he came on for Antony to play for 27 minutes versus Forest.
United were 3-0 up on aggregate and after his introduction they sealed their trip to Wembley to face Newcastle in the final with goals from Anthony Martial and Fred.
Sancho, who has been seeing a sports psychologist, could be set to make his first Premier League appearance in just over three months as Man Utd face Crystal Palace this afternoon. More