Two giants of English football go head to head on Sunday, with Newcastle and Manchester United battling it out at Wembley where the first domestic trophy of the season up for grabs. Sam Matterface discusses the game and provides his best Bet Builder selections for the action in the capital.
Sunday grants football fans their first domestic final of the season, as Newcastle and Manchester United meet at Wembley, which will be the Magpies' first major final at the national stadium since losing to Sunday's opponents in the 1999 FA Cup final.
Both sides have enjoyed successful seasons under new management, Erik Ten Hag has got United fighting on four fronts as well as guiding them to what could develop into a three-way title race in the league.
His counterpart on Sunday, Eddie Howe, has also massively changed his side's fortunes since taking over just under a year ago.
The former Bournemouth boss steered his side to safety last season and this year, in his first full season in charge, he has the Magpies fighting for a spot in the Champions League as well as giving them a chance at major silverware for first time since 1955.
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Newcastle have had very little go their way in the time since booking their spot in the final, making for some far from ideal preparation.
In the second-leg of their semi-final against Southampton, they lost their midfield maestro Bruno Guimaraes to a straight red card, resulting in a three-game ban for the Brazilian.
Fortunately, the Magpies had three league games between then and the final so he does return for Wembley's showpiece, but his absence was telling; in the three games without Guimaraes, Newcastle drew against two relegation-threatened sides in West Ham and Bournemouth before losing to Liverpool.
In that loss to Liverpool, Newcastle suffered more red card drama, when goalkeeper Nick Pope was given his marching orders for handling the ball far outside of his area in a moment of madness.
The news of that red card will have no doubt have buoyed Manchester United and their fans, as Newcastle's second choice goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is also unable to play due to being on the Red Devils' books and playing for them earlier in the competition
On top of that, Erik Ten Hag's side are in formidable form, so their hopes of landing some silverware will have increased ten-fold.
Both teams will be desperate to leave Wembley with a trophy in their hands and so we are set for what promises to be an absolute corker.
In the video above, Sam Matterface gives his best Bet Builder selections, as he discusses the game and how he thinks it will pan out.
Odds correct at time of writing and are subject to change.
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