Newcastle's 'new-look' left side backed to deliver
Newcastle are approaching Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Liverpool without their first-choice left-sided pairing.Anthony Gordon is suspended, after his red card against Brighton in the FA Cup, while Lewis Hall is out until next season with a foot injury.In Monday's 1-0 win at West Ham, Eddie Howe started with Tino Livramento and Harvey Barnes at left-back and left wing respectively. Former Newcastle defender John Anderson is certain the duo will line up at Wembley for the Magpies."When we saw the team, I said that I think that will be the team that starts at Wembley on Sunday," he said on BBC Radio Newcastle's podcast, Total Sport Newcastle. "I think Livramento just fits in there."I said it was a big opportunity for Harvey Barnes. In the games so far this season, the biggest impact he's really had is when he's come on as a substitute. "He did himself no harm at all and I'd be amazed if it wasn't the same starting XI against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon."Commentator Matthew Raisbeck agreed with Anderson, explaining the reasoning behind selecting Livramento ahead of a natural left-back such as Matt Targett."I put it to the manager [Eddie Howe] after the match, that Livramento played well at left-back last season," he said. "I think most of his best games were at left-back last season when Trippier was at right-back. This was before Lewis Hall broke into the team and finished so strongly at the end of last season."While Raisbeck accepts the loss of Hall and Gordon hampers the Magpies' creativity, he is still backing Barnes to be a "match-winner" at Wembley on Sunday."They've got Livramento who's right-footed and Barnes who wants to cut in on his right, all the time," he said. "They lacked a natural left-sided player in that position so they were cutting in a lot and maybe that slowed down some of the attacks when they got into good positions. "[But] I am really pleased that Barnes played a key role. He had two good chances to score - he's always a goal threat - and then laid on the winner for Bruno with that cross. "I'm really pleased he played well because if he starts at Wembley, he could be the match-winner because he will always give you a moment. He will always create an opening for himself or for somebody else."Full commentary of Liverpool v Newcastle from 16:30 GMT on Sunday on BBC Radio Newcastle
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