Newcastle United supporters will reportedly be banned from consuming alcohol on trains back up to the north-east following Sunday’s Carabao Cup final. The Magpies are aiming to end a 70-year domestic trophy drought, with rapturous celebrations in store if they win and a fresh dose of despair in the case of defeat.

Newcastle were one win away from breaking their duck two years ago, when Manchester United beat them 2-0 in the 2023 Carabao Cup final. This time round they face a rampant Liverpool side steaming towards the Premier League title under Arne Slot. Upsetting the odds would mean even greater cause for jubilation as the Toon make their way home.

But those taking LNER trains may find difficulty in toasting a win or drowning their sorrows in defeat. According to The Times, the British Transport Police have requested that those particular trains are operated alcohol free, meaning none will be served on board.

And there will reportedly be police and security teams stationed at King’s Cross to prevent people taking on their own alcoholic drinks. Authorities are expecting a wave of Magpies foot traffic heading up to Newcastle, Leeds and York in the hours following the full-time whistle.

Reds fans may not face the same issue, as trains from London Euston to Liverpool have not been made alcohol-free as things stand.

Newcastle and Liverpool have been allocated 32,000 tickets each as part of a 90,000 sell-out Wembley crowd. And plenty of others are expected to make the journey down to London to soak in the atmosphere.

Kieran Trippier spoke about the magnitude of the occasion after Monday night’s win at West Ham. “You want to win any game before a cup final,” he said. “You don’t want to be going into the cup final on the back of a defeat, but we know we can improve individually and as a group, and we’ve got to show that same character at the weekend.

“It’s massive. There was a lot of noise before the last final, but now the lads have experienced it, we know how to handle it. It’ll be a different feeling for everyone this time. The most important thing is to stay calm and stay relaxed.

“I’ve just been making sure that everyone’s relaxed in the dressing room and at the training ground. We have to stay composed and just look at it as another game. Of course it’s a final, we get it, Liverpool are a top side and we need to be at our best to beat them.”