On Sunday afternoon, one team will have a chance to end one of English football’s great droughts, to enshrine themselves in the folklore of a city, to ensure that they will never have to pay for a drink in their town ever again. As for the other guys, it would certainly put a nice ending on a week that has been so bruising for them otherwise.

It is not that the EFL Cup does not matter for Liverpool, or that the outcome could not change the tone of their season. It is simply that its importance to the Premier League champions in waiting is nothing compared to Newcastle United, who are eager to end their long wait for major silverware. The last time Newcastle won something significant was the Inter-City Fairs Cup on June 11, 1969.

Liverpool might not have their sights set exclusively on the Cup this season, yet they could level with Manchester United for the most domestic cups won in England with a victory. The day represents more than just another trophy; it’s about legacy and history.