Mohamed Salah to run riot?! Newcastle dealt devastating Lewis Hall injury blow ahead of Carabao Cup final clash with Liverpool

Hall sustained the injury during Newcastle's 2-0 defeat at Anfield in February and will miss the Carabao Cup final next weekend. He has established himself as Eddie Howe's first-choice left-back this season and the news will force a defensive reshuffle on a highly-anticipated occasion for the club.

Hall is the latest addition to a list of absentees for next Sunday's showdown, including winger Anthony Gordon, who is suspended after being sent off in the FA Cup defeat to Brighton at the weekend. Jamaal Lascelles is a long-term absentee, while there are concerns over Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Kieran Trippier.

A Newcastle statement read: "Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season after sustaining an injury to a bone in his foot. The 20-year-old was injured during the Magpies' Premier League fixture at Liverpool. Following a scan and advice from a specialist, Lewis will undergo surgery before a period of rehabilitation with the club's medical team."

Tino Livramento is Newcastle's only natural full-back who has regularly featured and is fully fit, with Trippier nursing a back problem and Hall now ruled out. The situation could see Howe turn to left-back Matt Targett, who has only made four appearances this season, or move Dan Burn back to the left-hand side of his defence. It is far from ideal ahead of the Wembley showdown, where the Premier League's current top scorer Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold will likely be lining up on Liverpool's right.