Peter Schmeichel has just given Newcastle United an extra reason to beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final

In the Premier League, things have not gone to plan in recent weeks. However, Newcastle United have been unstoppable in the cup competitions and now find themselves in a cup final.

Newcastle will travel to Wembley in March to take on defending Carabao Cup champions Liverpool. The Magpies’ fine run of form this season has given fans renewed confidence that they can get the job done after disappointing heartbreak in 2023.

Eddie Howe has been forced to watch his side fall to three defeats in the last four Premier League games, however, something he is undoubtedly eager to avoid in the build-up to the final.

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On a positive note, Joelinton should be fit for the Carabao Cup final. The Brazilian has been absent since January after struggling with a knee injury. Although he did not feature against Arsenal, Joelinton was spotted in a retro Newcastle shirt cheering his teammates on from the stands.

With the final on the horizon, Peter Schmeichel has reminded fans of a performance they hope Newcastle will not replicate 25 years on.

1999 was a fantastic year for Manchester United. One of the most memorable moments in football history came from their Champions League final win where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored a late winner to see them complete the treble.

What some younger fans may not know is that Man United played Newcastle in the FA Cup final at Wembley that season but were well beaten on the day. Managed by Ruud Gullit at the time, Newcastle could not do anything against a seemingly unstoppable side.

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The Dutchman is not remembered fondly for his time on Tyneside. Gullit rowed with Alan Shearer at Newcastle which led to his sacking.

Talking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Schmeichel recalled the cup final and just how poor the Magpies were on the day.

“I mean no disrespect to Newcastle but you get to an FA Cup final and you think it’s going to be a very hard game and in many ways, it wasn’t. They did have a few sniffs here and there, a few shots.

“I don’t know how to say this, but it was like an easy game for us.”

It’s a stark reminder of the 2023 final, and exactly what not to do in the upcoming trip to Wembley. Fans want to talk about Newcastle’s trophy history in a positive light rather than going back to the 60s to find their last trophy win.

Club staff have adopted a completely different mindset this time around. Jason Tindall said the Carabao Cup final was ‘another game’ – playing down the occasion rather than putting all their eggs in one basket.

Newcastle will also be looking to avenge their 1974 FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool. It’s a rematch over 50 years in the making.

Newcastle could make another Wembley appearance this season

As previously stated, Newcastle have been unstoppable in the cup competitions this season. Their success has spread into the FA Cup too.

Newcastle’s win at Birmingham City was a sign they can still go to grounds with hostile atmospheres and play teams who will make things tough.

At times, that game felt like an American Football match rather than an FA Cup tie – Joe Willock took a hammering from the Birmingham players as well as William Osula who took a big knock towards the end of the game which forced him off.

Newcastle drew Brighton in the FA Cup fifth round. The Seagulls will travel to Tyneside for the clash on Sunday, March 2. Advancing would then move them just one win away from a second appearance at Wembley for the season – something Newcastle have never done.