Man City to play Arsenal in EFL Cup final after beating Newcastle
Pep Guardiola's side win 5-1 over two legs against holders
City win 3-1 on night after goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Omar Marmoush (2)
Anthony Elanga scores consolation for Magpies
Final at Wembley on 22 March
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I love football: Pep complains about too many games and injuries, but at 5-1 on aggregate and 68 minutes into the game he introduces Cherki and Haaland rather than let fringe players who had less opportunities to play and get some game time. Very puzzling
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (agg 5-1)
Shay Given
Former Newcastle and Man City keeper on Sky Sports
It's a transitional period but Newcastle have been successful, winning this competition last year and getting Champions League football. There has been progression but it feels like there has been a step back in the Premier League.
There are question marks over Nick Woltemade. Where does he play and how do you get the best of him? Yoane Wissa is not fully fit yet. They are still creating chances which is a positive for Eddie Howe but Manchester City could have scored more goals. I feel that the balance of the team isn't right.
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Image source, Getty ImagesCJ Chandler: City were clearly the better team in both legs, but luck did play a part. All three of the goals tonight had a little fortune involved in one way or another.
This was perhaps one of the better recent Newcastle performances in terms of creating chances. Sadly, the finishing let us down.
Hopefully Elanga can build on his goal. His recent performances have been a bit of an improvement.
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Etihad Stadium
There's something to build on for Manchester City if you look at finals and the Champions League. If they want to be successful this season, they're going to have to rapidly improve as a group.
And it doesn't just start from the backline, it starts from the front. It's a collective, a desire to not let opposition have opportunities.
This has been a really successful night. To get to a final is really great credit to the team to do what they did over two legs against a good Newcastle side.
It shows good things, but overall, they have to keep building.
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Image source, Getty ImagesSame old same old: No surprise that it’s been a difficult week for Newcastle. European Champs (away), Premier League Champs (away), the dominant Prem team of the last decade (away). There will be enough other folk happy to tell us how toothless our team has looked without our own fans piling in. So heads down, shut up and move on. Saturday and next Tuesday are now the focus, as we suspected they would be all along.
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live at Etihad Stadium
It was rather sad for Newcastle for what has been a great year for them as the winners of the League Cup, for it to end like this. But it does set up what is a very appealing final between the current top two in the Premier League.
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Mikel Arteta was part of Pep Guardiola's coaching staff when Manchester beat Arsenal 3-0 in the 2018 League Cup final.
Now they're about to meet on opposite sides in the 2026 edition.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Man City 3-1Newcastle (agg 5-1)
Micah Richards
Former Man City defender on Sky Sports
I thought City were excellent in that first half in terms of dominating the game, scoring the goals and finishing Newcastle off. The first goal was vital and it was good professional performance.
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City boss Pep Guardiola walked around the pitch waving at fans after full-time.
He is one win away from his 19th trophy in 10 years at the club.
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Etihad Stadium
For Pep Guardiola, another opportunity, another final.
You can see it means something to him. He wants to end this season with a trophy.
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Antoine Semenyo has been in the building for what seems like two minutes. And he's now heading to Wembley for a major cup final.
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (agg 5-1)
Manchester City goalscorer Omar Marmoush, speaking to Sky Sports: "We showed a very good mentality. We were together as a team, from the first minute we were very focused on the job. We showed our mentality and passion and are very happy to reach the final."
On his goals: "The first goal was very lucky, my touch wasn't the best but the ball went in. I try to make the runs and be in the right place and I am very happy to score two goals."
On scoring five in total against Newcastle: "I wished to get the hat-trick today but I am very happy to score two goals and it gives us all confidence to win the game and hopefully we can win the final."
On what it means to have a chance of winning his first silverware with Man City: "It's one of the biggest clubs in the world. We are here to win trophies. We give our best every day to reach these finals and win silverware. Hopefully we can do it for all the new players and also the players that were here. They showed us that every medal and every silverware is important."
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
FT: Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Etihad Stadium
It's a massive final. If you had said from the start that these teams would be the ones in the final, you certainly would've been excited for that.
It was too little too late for Newcastle. The damage was done. Man City were cruising, they brought on the big guns to see it off.
Over two legs, they've dispatched Newcastle and those early goals have seen them off.
Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Where do Newcastle go from here?
One thing is for sure, there's going to be a big inquest into this.
Meanwhile, Eddie Howe has walked over to where the Toon Army is to show his appreciation along with his players.
Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Manchester City against Arsenal in the 2026 Carabao Cup final on 22 March. Get it in your diary.
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Toon fan for over 40 years and this is the first time we have been alive in four comps after Christmas. That is progress for me.
Richard
Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Two additional minutes.
Meanwhile, Rodri has been booked.
Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
Loads of Manchester City fans heading for the exits.
Why? Stay and applaud your team. They're heading to Wembley.
Man City 3-1 Newcastle (5-1 agg)
An Arsenal-Manchester City Wembley cup final.
We've not had one of those for eight years.
Bring. It. On.
Five of Omar Marmoush's 12 goals for Manchester City have come against Newcastle at Etihad Stadium
At a glance
Manchester City thrash holders Newcastle to set up Carabao Cup final against Arsenal
Omar Marmoush double and Tijjani Reijnders seal victory for Pep Guardiola's side
Anthony Gordon hobbles off injured for Newcastle
Manchester City booked a tantalising Carabao Cup final against Premier League leaders Arsenal by hammering holders Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in a one-sided semi-final.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the second leg, Eddie Howe's side needed something special in Wednesday's return game at Etihad Stadium but endured the worst possible start as Omar Marmoush's sixth minute goal set City on their way to a 10th final in the competition.
Marmoush, starting in place of Erling Haaland, nipped in and saw a deflected strike loop over Aaron Ramsdale and into the back of the net, while the Newcastle goalkeeper denied Tijjani Reijnders with a stunning save shortly after.
The visitors had chances to hit back but James Trafford did brilliantly to smother the ball at the feet of both Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon - and those near misses proved severe as they were punished by City thereafter.
Marmoush headed in from close range on the half hour mark and Reijnders slotted in a loose ball before half-time to make certain of the tie and allow the home supporters to enjoy a stress-free second period.
Anthony Elanga pulled a goal back for Newcastle on 62 minutes with a fine curling effort and Harvey Barnes had another disallowed.
But the damage had long been done as Pep Guardiola's side confirmed their place in the League Cup final on Sunday, 22 March at Wembley Stadium.
In a week where uncertainty was cast on Guardiola's long-term future at City, the Spaniard saw his side take apart Newcastle to ensure another crack at glory.
"Wembley again, ole ole," was the chant from the home faithful at full-time as they prepare to visit the national stadium for the 22nd time since Guardiola's appointment as boss in 2016.
City's last trip to the capital for a final ended in a shock FA Cup defeat by Crystal Palace in May, but Guardiola will have the opportunity to make amends by adding a 19th trophy to his illustrious career.
His first piece of silverware came in this competition in 2017, with Mikel Arteta by his side, but Guardiola's compatriot will now be aiming to plot his downfall and put an end to Arsenal's tag of 'nearly men'.
Next month's final not only pits master against his apprentice, but also the top two sides in English football - the Gunners looking to deal a psychological blow as they hold a six-point lead at the summit of the Premier League.
Newcastle had a monumental task on their hands after Rayan Cherki's late goal at St James' Park put City 2-0 ahead, and Marmoush's first-half double in the second leg killed any hope Eddie Howe and his supporters may have had.
The Egyptian could have had a hat-trick and though he was denied by Ramsdale, the result maintained City's imperious record against Newcastle, now winning 18 of their past 19 meetings dating back to 2014, including a remarkable 12 in a row.
History was always against the holders.
No side have ever reached a Carabao Cup final after losing the first leg at home by two or more goals.
Newcastle have also only ever won once at the Etihad.
But this game got away from Howe's team far too quickly.
As much as Newcastle found former target Trafford in fine form, the visitors were easily undone time and time again in the first half as they naively left gaps in an attempt to, somehow, get back into the tie.
Newcastle's midfield was repeatedly bypassed while a leggy back five struggled to handle Marmoush.
At one stage, a disconsolate Dan Burn - the hero of the club's Wembley triumph less than a year ago - sat on the turf with his hands covering his face after Reijnders scored Manchester City's third goal.
It summed up Newcastle's opening 45 minutes as gallows humour later spread across the away end and the travelling support chanted: "We're going to win 6-5!"
Having already lost Gordon to a hamstring injury, it was rather telling that Howe made three further changes at half-time in an effort to jolt his side.
Newcastle duly rallied after the break following a fine individual goal from Elanga, who also went on to miss a sitter, as the visitors ended a seven-and-a-half-year wait to score at the Etihad.
Wasteful Newcastle could have scored several more, but this heavy aggregate defeat was not the way the holders wanted to hand over the trophy they had waited so long to win.
Manchester City head to champions Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday (kick-off 16:30 GMT), while Newcastle host Brentford on Saturday (17:30).
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Manager:Pep Guardiola
Formation:4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager:Eddie Howe
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager:Pep Guardiola
Formation:4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager:Eddie Howe
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
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