Alan Shearer has backed his former club Newcastle to reach the Carabao Cup final, despite facing an Arsenal side unbeaten in the league since mid-November. Mikel Arteta's Gunners have won nine and drawn five in the Premier League since losing at St James' Park in the autumn. The most recent of those nine wins was also the joint-biggest, with Arteta's men winning 5-1 against Manchester City on Sunday.

They've found things a little tougher in the cups, though. Manchester United scored a penalty shoot-out victory over the London side in the third round of the FA Cup, while goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon put Newcastle in pole position in their Carabao Cup semi. The second leg of that semi-final will take place on Wednesday night, with Newcastle enjoying home advantage and a two-goal cushion. Shearer expects that to be enough for Eddie Howe's side, though he isn't certain they'll win on the night.

"I think Newcastle will have enough to get through," Shearer told Betfair. "Whether they win the game or draw, we'll have to wait and see. It wouldn't surprise me if it's a really tight, end-to-end game with a draw being the outcome which will suit Newcastle and then hopefully we can all sit and relax to watch Liverpool v Spurs the following evening!". Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta recognised the significance of the fixture, telling reporters: "The next step is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is, and you can feel it straight away. The boost the game against City gave us, the manner that we won it, and the fact that it is a game in the competition where we are closest to a final, so we're going to give it a real go.".

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who could welcome back Callum Wilson for the game, wasn't resting on his laurels despite his team's strong position. "My message is we are at the halfway point in the tie," he said. "Against any opposition, the game is still very much alive. We have to do our part but I think the quality of Arsenal and the team they have, we have to be on our guard.". Who will reach the Carabao Cup final? Have your say in the comments section.

The second semi-final is a tighter-run thing, with Lucas Bergvall's late goal giving Tottenham a 1-0 lead to protect away at Liverpool. Those teams will face off at Anfield on Thursday, and Shearer believes keeping Mohamed Salah quiet will be the key for the visitors. "Mo Salah got another two goals at the weekend and he's having a great season," Shearer added. "If Liverpool were to win the Premier League and Champions League, and you wouldn't put it past them, then he could be on for the Ballon d'Or.

"He's never been involved in that talk before but how do you stop him? Perhaps a little bit of luck, you've got to double and sometimes treble up which is very difficult because you leave the space for other players. It's going to be really difficult to stop him. He's a great player and great player's often get what they want.". Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice.