On Sunday night, Newcastle United achieved their first significant domestic trophy in a staggering 70 years, overcoming a surprisingly lacklustre Liverpool side 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final.
This result dashed the Reds’ aspirations of capturing a double, although Arne Slot’s team can take solace in the knowledge that their second Premier League title is imminent.
For Eddie Howe and the Newcastle camp, the pressure has been lifted, and there is every reason to believe this squad can pursue more successes moving forward.
It has been since the era of Vic Keeble, Bob Stokoe, and ‘Wor’ Jackie Milburn that the Geordies last lifted silverware at Wembley Stadium. On May 7, 1955, it was the FA Cup, and Sunday, March 16, 2025, will now be etched in the memory of the Toon Army.
Malcolm McDonald, Kevin Keegan, Andy Cole, and Alan Shearer have all graced the club as outstanding strikers but were unable to shake the cup curse that loomed over the team.
This time around, it was striker Alexander Isak who delivered the final blow, but the headline moment belonged to local lad Dan Burn, who set Newcastle on their path to victory and was awarded the man of the match honour in the process.
His towering header, reminiscent of those scored by Shearer, sent fans into a frenzy, celebrating as if they had just won the lottery. This marked the first time Newcastle fans had seen their team score at Wembley since the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea in 2000, with the last goal before that being Alan Gowling’s effort in the 1976 League Cup final against Manchester City.
In his post-match commentary, Eddie Howe praised Burn as a giant on the pitch, a sentiment echoed by the statistics: his 11 clearances were the highest of any player from either team.
Burn won seven out of nine duels, boasting the best success rate among players involved, although Bruno Guimaraes had a remarkable 14 duels overall, but failed to surpass Burn’s effectiveness.
In the aerial game, Burn’s dominance was clear; he won six out of seven aerial duels, while Virgil van Dijk managed only two out of six.
Burn’s defensive prowess laid the groundwork for Newcastle’s match-winning display and topped off a week where the 32-year-old from Blyth received his first call-up to the England squad.
Should he make his debut in one of Thomas Tuchel’s first two international fixtures, it would be a moment to cherish for the defender.
Bruno Guimaraes also deserves credit for his remarkable work ethic and leadership, ensuring his team maintained a forward momentum while limiting Liverpool’s opportunities. The combative midfielder regained possession nine times during the match, matching his best performance from the cup run, effectively frustrating the Reds until Federico Chiesa netted late in the game, setting up a potential nail-biter finish.
Guimaraes was a standout in offensive contributions as well, with two successful dribbles and 11 passes in the final third, surpassed only by Fabian Schar. His five successful tackles against Liverpool accounted for half of Newcastle’s total for the match, boasting an impressive 80% success rate.
In an impressive display of defensive organisation, the normally lively Mo Salah managed just one touch in the box during yet another disappointing outing for the Egyptian King at Wembley.
But Salah was not alone in his struggle, as Liverpool’s key players failed to leave their mark against a team they had dominated in previous encounters, having gone 17 matches without loss to Newcastle across all competitions.
Isak, however, had a more fruitful outing, scoring for the fourth time against Liverpool in just six appearances, signifying his growing threat against the Merseyside club.
Ultimately, Liverpool were second best throughout the final, with their seven shots – the lowest tally in any single match during their 2024/2025 Carabao Cup journey – illustrating their struggles.
They laboured considerably, and it’s conceivable that the midweek Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain left a lasting impact.
Whatever tactical approach Slot attempted on the day fell flat, continuing the Dutchman’s disappointing record in finals, now featuring just one victory from four attempts.
Whether this marks the beginning of a new era for Newcastle is uncertain, but for now, they can relish the end of 70 years of heartache.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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