LONDON – Newcastle United ended their 70-year domestic trophy drought on Sunday at Wembley, capitalizing on Liverpool’s recent Champions League round-of-16 elimination with a lackluster showing in the Carabao Cup final, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Eddie Howe’s side.
Lifelong Newcastle fan Dan Burn opened the scoring with a brilliant header from distance just before halftime, while Alexander Isak extended the lead from close range seven minutes into the second half. Federico Chiesa netted a stoppage-time consolation goal for Liverpool.
After falling short against Manchester United in the 2023 Carabao Cup final, Newcastle came into this match with determination and controlled the game throughout, securing their first domestic cup victory since the 1955 FA Cup. This triumph also makes Eddie Howe the first English manager to claim a major trophy since Harry Redknapp led Portsmouth to FA Cup success in 2008.
Just five days after their Champions League exit in a penalty shootout against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield, Liverpool struggled to mount a serious challenge and never looked likely to defend the trophy they won under Jürgen Klopp last season. With this defeat, Arne Slot’s squad is now left focusing solely on the Premier League title race.
Newcastle end 70-year domestic trophy drought
Newcastle has finally shed the label of the most unsuccessful big club in world football, ending their 70-year domestic trophy drought with a commanding victory over defending champions Liverpool at Wembley. While they did claim the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup by defeating Hungarian side Újpest Dozsa in 1969, fans have long considered their 1955 FA Cup triumph against Manchester City as the club’s last true major trophy.
No other major club in world football had endured such a long wait for silverware, with Newcastle falling short in five major finals and finishing as Premier League runners-up twice since their 1955 triumph. The significance of this victory was evident in the passionate reactions of Newcastle’s players, who celebrated every tackle and key clearance. Midfield stars Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães, both outstanding on the night, repeatedly urged the crowd to amplify their support.
Now under the ownership of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, Newcastle has the financial power to build on this success, much like Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City and Qatar-funded Paris Saint-Germain. However, after decades of waiting, the sheer joy and relief of finally ending their trophy drought may be unmatched by anything that follows.
Liverpool, once a dominant force, now appear fragile.
It was symbolic that the final action of the first half on Sunday was a mishit effort from Diogo Jota, Liverpool’s first shot of the match—perfectly encapsulating their lackluster opening 45 minutes against Howe’s side.
Just five days earlier, Liverpool had endured a grueling 120-minute battle with PSG in the Champions League, and the fatigue was evident as they struggled against a Newcastle team carrying the hopes of an entire city at Wembley.
Make no mistake, Liverpool’s season has still been remarkable, and—barring an unexpected collapse—they remain on course to claim the Premier League title in a few months. However, despite Slot’s pre-match claims that motivation wouldn’t be an issue following their European exit, his side appeared drained in Sunday’s final.
With 17 days until their next match against Everton, this loss will linger. Slot must use the break to refocus his squad, or what once seemed like a smooth path to the finish line could turn into an exhausting battle.
Burn fulfills every Newcastle fan’s ultimate dream.
Burn was already living every Newcastle fan’s dream as a player before cementing his place in club folklore with a stunning headed goal that set his team on the path to Carabao Cup glory. The 32-year-old defender, a lifelong Newcastle supporter from Blyth, just 15 miles away, received his first England call-up earlier in the week and added another incredible moment to his story by scoring against Liverpool.
His journey is one of resilience and determination. Released by Fulham in 2016, Burn dropped into the Championship with Wigan to revive his career. Before that, he worked in a supermarket as a teenager, unsure if he would ever make it as a professional footballer.
When he joined Newcastle from Brighton in January 2022 as one of Howe’s first signings, even Burn expected to be a temporary solution before the club’s Saudi owners brought in high-profile stars. However, much like forward-turned-midfielder Joelinton, he has flourished under Howe’s management, and both players delivered standout performances against Liverpool.
What makes Burn’s story special is that he is not just a player but a fan living out every supporter’s dream. His goal carried enormous significance for Newcastle, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he one day has a statue outside St. James’ Park.
It would have to be a big one, though—standing at 6-foot-7, Burn is a giant both in stature and in Newcastle’s history.
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Salah's form fading at the worst possible moment
As Newcastle’s players erupted in celebration following Isak’s second-half goal, Mohamed Salah slowly made his way back to the center circle, his head down.
The Egyptian star has been Liverpool’s driving force this season, delivering an incredible 32 goals and 22 assists across all competitions. But at Wembley on Sunday, his usual magic seemed to abandon him.
It capped off a tough week for Salah, who was visibly emotional after Liverpool’s heartbreaking Champions League exit to PSG on Tuesday. While he was the only Liverpool player to convert his penalty in the shootout at Anfield, he struggled to make a real impact over both legs against the Parisians.
Criticizing Salah feels harsh, considering how much his brilliance has fueled what is still likely to be a successful season for Liverpool. However, it’s undeniable that his dip in form has come at the worst possible time for Slot’s side.
Perhaps the bigger concern for Liverpool is the lack of others stepping up. On paper, Slot has one of Europe’s most formidable attacking units, yet with Salah off his game, the team suddenly looks worryingly toothless in the final third.
Isak cements his status as a Newcastle legend, but will they be able to hold onto him?
Isak increased his tally against Liverpool to four goals in six matches for Newcastle, delivering the crucial strike at Wembley that secured a 2-0 lead and sealed the club’s first domestic trophy in 70 years. The Swedish forward, who arrived for a club-record £63 million from Real Sociedad in August 2022, has now etched his name into Newcastle’s history.
However, with elite goal scorers in high demand, his performance will only heighten interest from top clubs this summer. Arsenal has long been linked with the 25-year-old, while Liverpool—facing uncertainty over Salah’s future—has also been mentioned as a potential suitor.
The key question remains: how long can Newcastle keep hold of their star striker? Their Carabao Cup victory secures a place in next season’s Conference League, offering European football as an incentive for him to stay. Backed by their wealthy Saudi Arabian owners, the club will undoubtedly do everything possible to retain him.
Alexander-Arnold's absence makes clear Liverpool's right-back issue
When Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off at Anfield on Tuesday, it was clear his injury could have repercussions far beyond the clash with PSG.
With backup options Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez also unavailable, Jarell Quansah was tasked with filling in at right-back against Newcastle. While he performed well against the French side earlier in the week, he, like many of his teammates, struggled to make an impact against Howe’s determined squad at Wembley.
Quansah wasn’t Liverpool’s weakest link, but with Alexander-Arnold’s contract expiring this summer, Slot may soon need to find a long-term solution for the position. Bradley, though highly promising, has only 23 Premier League appearances and a growing history of minor injuries. Gomez, too, has battled persistent fitness issues, while Quansah’s form has been inconsistent.
If Alexander-Arnold departs on a free transfer at the end of the season, securing a new right-back could become another pressing priority on Slot’s summer transfer list.
Newcastle weren't hungrier than Liverpool in Carabao Cup, Slot says
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot rejected suggestions that Newcastle United’s players were “hungrier” in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final but acknowledged that Eddie Howe’s team fully deserved their victory.
The Premier League leaders fell to a 2-1 defeat at Wembley, with Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scoring for Newcastle before substitute Federico Chiesa pulled one back in stoppage time.
Howe’s team endured a late scare but ultimately secured Newcastle’s first domestic trophy in 70 years. However, Slot does not believe that this achievement provided their opponents with extra motivation.
“It’s 70 years since they’ve last won a trophy maybe, but that’s for the fans,” Slot said after the match. “The players only have 15 years to play football, and they want to win every single trophy they are competing for. That’s also what we want.
“It was a game that went the way [Newcastle] wanted it to go and they got some extra energy with the goal just before half time, which they probably deserved after the first 45 minutes because they were threatening us more than we were threatening them. I don’t think there was more hunger from them.”
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Slot remarked: “A disappointing result and a disappointing display—completely different from how I felt after the PSG match. Losing twice in a row is something I believe has happened for the first time, but that’s also part of reaching the latter stages of a tournament.
“PSG and Newcastle are both strong teams, each with their own distinct styles. We already knew from our game at St James’ Park how challenging it is to beat Newcastle. It was a tough week, but we also extended our lead to 12 points, so it wasn’t all negative. However, the last two matches certainly didn’t go as we had hoped.”
Liverpool now have a 17-day break before facing Everton on April 2, where they will aim to get back on track in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
“I would have loved to play next week, but now the situation is that they go to their national teams where they have to play two more games again,” Slot said. “Then it is a week before we face Everton, who are again a team we have already faced, and we know how difficult that one was.”
