Newcastle-Southampton is a League Cup semi-final return match and is played on Tuesday at 9pm: lineups, predictions, TV and streaming
A goal from Brazilian Joelinton and yet another clean sheet of the season were the main ingredients that ‘chef’ Eddie Howe used in the League Cup semi-final first leg against Southampton to put Newcastle in with a serious chance of reaching the final at Wembley on 26 February.
The 0-1 win at St Mary’s Stadium brings the Magpies – and not just a little bit – closer to the final act of their third domestic competition, which they have not played in 47 years, since 1976. Without forgetting that to trace the last title of the club bought a year and a half ago by the rich Saudi fund Pif you have to go back to the 1950s. A fast that sooner or later seems destined to come to an end, considering that Newcastle’s rise since the change of ownership has been abrupt. Thanks to two campaigns in which the club have spared no expense in strengthening their squad – despite not securing any top players – the Magpies have gone from being a team in perennial relegation contention to a real contender for a place in the next Champions League.
Magpies with one and a half feet in the final
Despite a deadlocked draw on the final day of the Premier League against Crystal Palace, Howe’s men remained third, level on points with Manchester United.
Southampton’s Edozie
Which, should they pass the round, they would almost certainly find in the League Cup final (the Red Devils in the first leg scrambled Nottingham Forest 3-0 at home). Southampton, still last in the league table, have no choice but to attempt a feat that would be sensational. Only three teams, in fact, have managed to gain access to the final of the event despite having lost the first leg. Nathan Jones’ Saints, unlike Newcastle, were involved in the other cup, the FA Cup, at the weekend and beat Blackpool 2-1 to qualify for the fifth round.
The Prediction
Newcastle have an almost impregnable defence, the least beaten in the Premier League. At home they have not conceded a goal in eight games. A ‘wall’ that Southampton are unlikely to break down. Eddie Howe’s team will try to put the game to sleep, keep the pace low, against an opponent who also has a few extra minutes in their legs. And in all likelihood they will prevail this time as well. With another clean sheet, of course.
Newcastle-Southampton line-up probables
- NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes; Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.
- SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Caleta-Car, Salisu; Alcaraz, Diallo; Edozie, Ward-Prowse, Orsic; Mara.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0