'I'm hoping to be in Liverpool squad - but my friends will be with the Newcastle United fans at Wembley'

James McConnell is set to experience the magic of Wembley for the second time in his young career, as Liverpool prepare to face his boyhood club, Newcastle United, in the Carabao Cup final this Sunday.

For McConnell, this match carries a unique emotional weight, as he grew up in Newcastle but joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of 15 after coming through Sunderland’s youth ranks.

While many of McConnell’s friends will be cheering for Newcastle, hoping to see the Magpies end their 70-year trophy drought, his immediate family will be firmly in the Liverpool camp.

Speaking to RedMen TV, McConnell shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash: “Maybe in the extended family, there’s some Newcastle support. For me and my family, probably not. My family have to switch and will be hoping along with me that Liverpool get it done.

A lot of my mates from home will probably be in the Newcastle end. It will be a great game again. If I can be in and around it, then that’ll be great. If I’m watching from the stands, that will be great as well, and I hope it goes the same as last year.”

McConnell’s journey to this point has been marked by hard work and determination. Over the past 18 months, he has gradually integrated into Liverpool’s first-team setup, making six senior appearances before his memorable introduction in the 87th minute of last year’s Carabao Cup final.

Despite being an unheralded name to many, McConnell more than held his own against a star-studded Chelsea midfield featuring the likes of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. His contribution, alongside Virgil van Dijk’s dramatic late header, helped Liverpool secure their 10th Carabao Cup title.

Reflecting on his experience in last year’s final, McConnell recalled the advice Jurgen Klopp gave him before he replaced Alexis Mac Allister: “He just said, ‘Go and enjoy the experience, you’re good enough to be here.’ Other than that, I can’t really remember. I just remember thinking, ‘This is a bit mad.’ It helped that everyone who started was getting a bit tired, and we were fresh. When you look back, moments like that don’t happen a lot in your career, and you’ve just got to try to enjoy it. We got a little bit of play at the end, and when the goal went in, it was mad.”

The scenes following James McConnell is set to experience the magic of Wembley for the second time in his young career, as Liverpool prepare to face his boyhood club, Newcastle United, in the Carabao Cup final this Sunday.

The 20-year-old midfielder, a born-and-raised Geordie, is likely to secure a spot on the bench due to injuries to key Liverpool players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, and Tyler Morton. For McConnell, this match carries a unique emotional weight, as he grew up in Newcastle but joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of 15 after coming through Sunderland’s youth ranks.

While many of McConnell’s friends will be cheering for Newcastle, hoping to see the Magpies end their 70-year trophy drought, his immediate family will be firmly in the Liverpool camp. Speaking to RedMen TV, McConnell shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash: “Maybe in the extended family, there’s some Newcastle support. For me and my family, probably not. My family have to switch and will be hoping along with me that Liverpool get it done.

‘This is a bit mad.’ It helped that everyone who started was getting a bit tired, and we were fresh. When you look back, moments like that don’t happen a lot in your career, and you’ve just got to try to enjoy it. We got a little bit of play at the end, and when the goal went in, it was mad.”

The scenes following Van Dijk’s winning goal remain etched in McConnell’s memory. “When you see the pictures and how mad everyone was, I remember thinking, 8⅞‘We’ve got two minutes and have to see it out, and it’ll be nuts.’ For the 10 seconds after we scored, it was just mad. It was carnage, but we managed to hold on,” he said.

While McConnell acknowledges the plaudits he and other young players received, he is quick to credit the senior members of the squad for their pivotal role in the victory. “The narrative was that a lot of the young lads got the plaudits, but the senior lads did so, so well, and we wouldn’t have won it without them. I do look back and think, in a game like that, it doesn’t matter who’s better—it’s about who wants it more in the moment. In the last 10 minutes, we just went for it, and you need a bit of luck, which we probably got.”

“Last year was a bit different because there was an injury crisis, but this year, you’ve still got to be ready regardless. We obviously hope the lads can get it done in 90 minutes, but just to be in and around it is still a great experience. We’re only going to get better being in and around it. Regardless of what happens, it should be a great day.”

For McConnell, Sunday’s final is more than just a game—it’s a chance to continue his development at one of the world’s biggest clubs while navigating the emotional complexity of facing the team he once supported. Whether he steps onto the pitch or watches from the bench, McConnell’s journey serves as a testament to his talent, resilience, and the unwavering support of his family. As Liverpool and Newcastle battle for silverware, McConnell’s story adds a compelling layer to what promises to be a thrilling encounter at Wembley. Dijk’s winning goal remain etched in McConnell’s memory. “When you see the pictures and how mad everyone was, I remember thinking, ‘We’ve got two minutes and have to see it out, and it’ll be nuts.’ For the 10 seconds after we scored, it was just mad. It was carnage, but we managed to hold on,” he said. While McConnell acknowledges the plaudits he and other young players received, he is quick to credit the senior members of the squad for their pivotal role in the victory. “The narrative was that a lot of the young lads got the plaudits, but the senior lads did so, so well, and we wouldn’t have won it without them. I do look back and think, in a game like that, it doesn’t matter who’s better—it’s about who wants it more in the moment. In the last 10 minutes, we just went for it, and you need a bit of luck, which we probably got.”

As McConnell prepares for another potential Wembley appearance, he remains focused on being ready for any opportunity that comes his way. “You’ve always got to be ready in case you get a chance, but we’ve got so many world-class midfielders at the club—not just midfielders but players in all positions,” he said. “Last year was a bit different because there was an injury crisis, but this year, you’ve still got to be ready regardless. We obviously hope the lads can get it done in 90 minutes, but just to be in and around it is still a great experience. We’re only going to get better being in and around it. Regardless of what happens, it should be a great day.”