The Tyson Fury in Newcastle United's Wembley ranks who can strike Liverpool knockout blow

How do you beat the Slot Machine? With difficulty most would say. Liverpool's pedigree is stamped on the passport - they are Premier League champions elect with only one defeat in 29 matches. Certainly the odds are stacked against those in opposition and you have to have a gambler's luck.

Eddie Howe looks more like Aled Jones than someone playing the slots in Vegas but at Wembley he needs to somehow find a way to beat the system. Fortune favours the brave. And, hey, has the pendulum which originally swung so violently against us swung back just a little in Wembley week?

While Newcastle licked their considerable wounds and came up with a capital victory at West Ham, Arne Slot's Reds were dumped out of the Champions League before the unbelieving gaze of the Kop, suffered two hours of exhausting failure, and lost a key performer Trent Alexander-Arnold to help balance the three we will be without.

United have more than a puncher's chance and in Alexander Isak they have their own Tyson Fury. Smack them on the nose bonny lad. Don't lose heart Geordie. Our day will come. May it be Sunday. The big Gunners of Arsenal were reduced to pea shooters not once but twice in the semi-final beaten 2-0 home and away when United were second in the betting. Get the message?

We refuse to give in. PL champions Man City lost last year's FA Cup final to their noisy neighbours, a few years earlier in 2013 they surrendered the same trophy to a relegated Wigan Athletic. Leicester City won the PL title of 2016 when they had no chance, Emma Raducanu the US Open 2021 as a qualifier. Buster Douglas smashed Mike Tyson and a roly poly Andy Ruiz toppled the unbeaten chiselled Anthony Joshua.

A one-off game is, well, one off. We have to retain genuine hope despite a trio of crippling blows which have weakened the side and lengthened the odds. Every man jack is within touching distance of history and if that doesn't inspire and add a couple of layers of defiance then what will. Confidence amongs the travelling hordes and those watching indoors has been significantly lifted by victory at West Ham. We needed that and we got it. Defeat in Wembley week was unthinkable. Keep the faith, keep the faith.

So what do United need on Sunday? Controlled passion, not hot headed recklessness. Disciplined defending not switching off to admire the occasion. No imitation of Gray's Monument standing stock still while attackers are not tracked. Ruthless finishing when a chance presents itself not the Callum Wilson of Anfield. All these things are imperative.

The weight of history must be cast to one side. The history of no trophies, of being unable to beat Liverpool in their last 17 confrontations dating back 10 years.

United's big names Bruno, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton must live up to their international reputations on this biggest of days because while Mo Salah's goals are the headline catchers Liverpool's dominance is built on their midfield which ran the show at Anfield recently. Graeme Souness, a former United manager who was a tasty midfielder himself, has singled out Alexis Mac Allister as their player of the season ahead of Salah and the silky smooth Virgil van Dijk which is quite a compliment. He is their SuperMac with terrific outriders.

Lewis Hall did a magnificent job of shackling Salah at Anfield recently but now United's left flank is laid dangerously bare by the absence of him and Anthony Gordon. The Egyptian hovers like Marley's Ghost over Scrooge. However Dutch master van Dijk is often unsettled by Isak's grace and movement and Tonali has a platform to showcase what he trumpeted at AC Milan and with the Italian national side.

If it is natural for United to look to their centre stagers for inspiration then it is equally important that the chorus rises to a special occasion. The wide players Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes need to stretch the game and get at Liverpool full-backs not renowned for their defensive attributes. Tino Livramento has to show versatility, Kieran Trippier call on all his experience to take his opportunity for one last cup final hurrah, the keeper whichever one it is to go all out to make up for missing out in 2023. We need Fabian Schar and Dan Burn to remember when they were an insurmountable barrier to every opposing team's aspirations.

Finally for the impossible dream of 70 years to become a reality we perhaps require more than anything Isak to be bold and make this his moment. Maybe it is supposed to be reserved for Salah's crowning and he could have the greater help but it can belong to our Swede. Believe in your ability and your destiny Alex.

We need a break in Wembley cup finals. I've been up close and personal at all five since Wor Jackie stopped making winning a habit and not only have United lost every one but we have scored just once in seven and a half hours of endeavour - Alan Gowling's goal in the 1976 League Cup final. That is another record for you to blast Isak. May the winds be with you.

The job can be done. The mountain climbed. The doom-makers defied. It will take every piece of luck, pluck, steely defiance, and dripping endeavour. It will be far from easy but nothing worth having is easy.

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