German goalkeeper Loris Karius usually sits in the stands when his club play Newcastle United. In the final of the English League Cup, however, his hour could come. The endgame also has a political component.
Nick Pope is the clear number one at Newcastle United. His problem: After a red card, which he received in the 2-0 defeat in the Premier League against Liverpool FC, he is also suspended for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday (February 26, 2023, 5:30 p.m.).
The second goalkeeper has already played for the opponent in the final this season
Martin Dúbravka is the number two at Newcastle United. His problem: He was loaned to Manchester United until the end of 2022, has already played for the club in the League Cup this season and is therefore not allowed to play for his current club at Wembley Stadium.
Loris Karius is number three or four at Newcastle United. That is not exactly known. He’s definitely eligible, as is Mark Gillespie. Both have played zero minutes for the “Magpies” this season. The fact that Karius, who was born in Biberach an der Riss, could be more likely to be number three than Gillespie, who was born in Newcastle, can be deduced from the fact that he was much more often in the squad than his English competitor.
Number three or number four?
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has not publicly announced who will be in goal on Sunday. Between the lines, in an interview, he hinted that Karius has an advantage.
Loris Karius has been under contract with the “Magpies” since September 2022. He was previously without a club after failing to secure a new contract with Liverpool. He hadn’t played with the “Reds” anyway, he was loaned out to Besiktas in Istanbul and to 1. FC Union in Berlin.
Goof with concussion
Karius’ last game for Liverpool was also a final. On May 26, 2018, he met Real Madrid with Jürgen Klopp’s team in Kiev. It was the Champions League final. Liverpool lost 3-1, Karius made two hair-raising mistakes. It later emerged that he previously suffered a concussion, believed to have been after a clash with Sergio Ramos. Interested in hindsight only marginally.
Karius is credited with being the player who single-handedly lost the final for the most important club trophy in European football.
Entry of the Saudis 2021
The Carabao Cup is the third most important title in English club football behind the Premier League and the FA Cup. Nevertheless, even the big clubs like to take him with them and celebrate boisterously. For Newcastle United, success is likely to trigger even more, as the club from north-east England last won a domestic title in 1955, the FA Cup. Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC) were English champions four times, most recently in 1927.
Since October 2021, every football fan will have been aware that the “Magpies”‘ time without a title will come to an end very quickly. Saudi Arabia incorporated the club through a sovereign wealth fund.
Still, it’s surprising that Newcastle are chasing a trophy so quickly and have a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League via the Premier League.
The NUFC is currently fifth in the table with one point and one game less than Tottenham Hotspur. The “Spurs” meet city rivals FC Chelsea in the league on Sunday, where coach Graham Potter has to fear for his job. Excerpts of the game will be shown in the sports show on Sunday from 7.15 p.m.
Critical fans are hoping for an appeal from coach Howe
Newcastle fans thirst for success, for international football, for silverware, as the British call trophies. Most supporters are therefore happy about the commitment of the Saudis, through which the financial possibilities can only be limited by the European football association UEFA.
However, there is also a small critical fan group that rejects the new owners because of Saudi Arabia’s blatant violations of press freedom. On February 18, the day of the league game against Liverpool, the activists gave coach Eddie Howe a letter written by Ahmad al-Rabea. His brother Hassan was recently deported from Morocco to Saudi Arabia, where he faced torture, a show trial and even the death penalty.
Ahmad al-Rabea, his family and the critical “Newcastle United Football Club Fans Against Sportswashing” hope Howe and the players will use the grand stage of the final to raise his voice for Hassan al-Rabea and all those who are are threatened with the death penalty. Nothing has been heard yet.