Newcastle United have won their first domestic trophy since their FA Cup win 70 years ago, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Goals from childhood Newcastle fan Dan Burn and Swedish international Alexander Isak sealed the win for the Magpies.
A late scare came from a Liverpool goal from Federico Chiesa, with the goal being given after a lengthy VAR check for offside. However, Newcastle saw the victory out, and as a result wrote their names into Geordie folklore for generations to come.
Newcastle were dominant throughout, but it wasn’t until the final moments of the first half where they found a breakthrough. A bullet header from Newcastle centre-back Dan Burn, assisted from a Kieran Trippier corner, beat Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the 46th minute, leading to the black and white end of Wembley erupting in euphoria.
At the beginning of the second half, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak found the back of the net twice in quick succession, with the first being ruled out for offside due to interference from Bruno Guimarães.
However, the second goal, a strike from the edge of the Liverpool area stood, and Newcastle asserted their dominance.
Newcastle keeper Nick Pope was hardly tested, with a solitary save coming from Curtis Jones’ effort before Chiesa gave Liverpool hope in the 96th minute.
Liverpool were inferior across the pitch throughout the game, with their late resurgence, and the tension which ensued, slightly masking the fact they were comfortably outperformed.
Liverpool struggled to get their star man Mohammed Salah into the game, despite having the lion’s share of possession throughout the match.
The League Cup defeat caps off the end to a disappointing week for the club, after their exit in the Champions League to Paris Saint Germain in midweek.
It is also the first time that Liverpool have lost two consecutive games this season.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after the match that it was a “Disappointing result and a disappointing performance. Completely different than I felt after the Paris Saint Germain game.”
Newcastle rightly deserved their win, and the end of the trophy drought was greeted with unbridled joy from the players and fans in Wembley. Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães was overcome with emotion, describing it as one of the best days of his life.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said, “I am so, so pleased with the result and performance. We deserved to win but it was tough when Liverpool scored.”
Howe is also the first English manager to lift either the League Cup or the FA Cup since Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008.
The investment going into the side will have Newcastle fans hoping this is not an isolated success, regardless of the dubious sources from which it comes.
Image credits: “Wembley-Stadion 2013 16×10” by Wikiolo is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.