Of course, it is impossible to completely escape a city’s feelings and expectations — especially when the club’s all-time leading scorer, Alan Shearer, texts the club captain, Bruno Guimaraes, on the eve of the game. But his message was not one spewing emotion, but a clinical instruction: “Bring that trophy back.”

Eddie Howe believes winning the Carabao Cup can be a “turning point” in the history of Newcastle United. Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored either side of the interval to give the Magpies a

Newcastle United face the Reds tomorrow aiming to banish 70 years of hurt without domestic silverware. Greats like Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson have tried to get the Magpies over the line since Jimmy Scoular lifted the FA Cup after beating Manchester City in 1955.