Newcastle United's injury situation has rocked their Carabao Cup preparations - but Liverpool are also sweating on the fitness of a key man ahead of the Wembley showpiece.

The Magpies have seen defensive duo Lewis Hall and Sven Botman both ruled out of the final this week. Hall is set to go under the knife after suffering a foot injury and won't play again this season, while Botman needs a procedure on his knee after experiencing issues following his return to the team.

Botman is still hoping to play again this season - Eddie Howe believes he will be out for eight weeks - but Hall's campaign is over. Added to those injuries, Newcastle also have club captain Jamaal Lascelles on the sidelines until around May.

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With Anthony Gordon suspended for the cup final after his red card against Brighton last weekend, it means Newcastle have a number of selection concerns. Liverpool meanwhile, are romping clear at the top of the Premier League table and beat Paris St Germain in the first leg of their Champions League clash in midweek to close in on a quarter-final place.

Everything appears rosy in the Anfield garden, but manager Arne Slot confirmed they have an injury doubt over striker Cody Gakpo as they head into their league clash with Southampton tomorrow. Gakpo missed the PSG game with an ankle issue.

The Liverpool boss said: "He didn't train yesterday yet, let's see if he can train today. A close call, not a long-term one but had some pain yesterday. Let's see where he is today."

Gakpo had only recently returned from injury. The Dutch forward has had an exceptional season, scoring 16 times.

Liverpool still have a number of attacking options available should Gakpo's injury not clear up, with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott. They have managed to keep the majority of their side fit for the season, despite fighting on three fronts, but Slot insists it is down to the work the medical side have been doing, and not just good fortune.

Defensive duo Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley remain on the treatment table and are likely to miss the cup final. However, both are fringe players in the Liverpool back four.

"If you think injuries are a part of luck or bad luck then we have been lucky but we believe that we can prevent them through working," Slot told the Liverpool Echo. "So that is not luck for us that we don't have many injuries, top pros stay fit and we have great facilities and staff. If we can continue this for years then it is probably quality.

"Although you cannot go through a season in this country without injuries, Alisson, weeks, Jota four months, Trent, Bradley, Gomez is out now for three months, so you cannot do it. It is the amount of injuries you try to prevent."