Liverpool's players have been stepping up their preparations ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, with Arne Slot getting a welcome boost in training on Friday.

Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Carabao Cup final - Reds have doubts over defensive players ahead of trip to Wembley

Ibrahima Konate will be fit for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, having joined training on Friday in the buildup to the weekend’s clash with Newcastle. Konate had been considered a slight doubt for the final after limping off late on in Tuesday’s penalty shootout defeat to PSG in the Champions League.

Liverpool and Newcastle United head into Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with injury concerns for both sides. Arne Slot ’s side saw their treble hopes go up in smoke on Tuesday night after they were dumped out of the Champions League on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain.

Newcastle face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on March 16 and fans can watch the game with Sky Sports' discounted TV bundle. John Brooks is the man in the middle today. He oversaw two Newcastle victories over Arsenal this season, the 1-0 Premier League win at St James' Park and the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, which United won 2-0.

They are also the reigning champions after beating Chelsea in last year’s final, after extra time. After a goalless 90 minutes, Virgil Van Dijk finally broke the deadlock in the second half of extra time, to secure Jurgen Klopp’s last trophy in charge of Liverpool.

Liverpool return to Wembley to defend their Carabao Cup crown with head coach Arne Slot seeking to win his first trophy eight months into his Anfield reign. Here the PA news agency takes a look at how they made it to the final again.

Arne Slot's team enter a vital week with hope that Cody Gakpo can be involved after forward trained on Monday following an absence because of an ankle injury

Latest Newcastle United opinion ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool after a challenging evening for Arne Slot and his players

The Sweden international has scored 19 of their 46 Premier League goals, or 41 percent. Mohamed Salah has 27 league goals on his own, but behind him he has Cody Gakpo, the team’s leading scorer in the competition over the last two seasons, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez.

Arne Slot had to jokingly remind those in attendance as his news conference on Friday that his team were playing Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. He had been asked about plenty of issues surrounding the Reds,