Carabao Cup Final: Let’s Talk Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool
Newcastle United - 2025 Carabao Cup Winners
Liverpool Running Out of Steam?
Hometown Hero Dan Burn
Alexander Isak’s Inevitability
Newcastle United ended a 70 year wait for a domestic trophy, as they lifted the Carabao Cup, beating Liverpool 2-1 thanks to goals from Blyth-born Dan Burn and Sweden’s Alexander Isak.
Arne Slot’s week got worse after his Liverpool side fell out of the Champions League against PSG, as the Reds failed to get going, with Newcastle talking a more businesslike approach that put them on the front foot from the start.
In the end, the Merseyside team only registered two shots on target, with Federico Chiesa’s goal coming in the 94th minute.
The Magpies controlled the game throughout, and with Liverpool’s stars failing to make an impact, Eddie Howes team walked to a monumental victory that will echo in Newcastle hearts for a long time.
Running Out of Steam?
Slot’s Liverpool have been formidable in the Premier League this season, dominating appointments and finding ways to control their opponents and secure three points weekly. Yet, in recent weeks, the Reds form has dipped ever so, with the team lacking a clinical edge.
In the club’s two legs against PSG in the Champions League, Liverpool were outplayed in Paris but defended well and countered well for their goal. At Anfield, Liverpool were again outplayed, but PSG defended better, taking the game to penalties and ultimately winning.
At Wembley today, Slot’s team looked tired. Mentally drained. Newcastle were up for this and Liverpool weren’t. Mohamed Salah had little service, but when found struggled against Tino Livramento. You’d be forgiven for thinking Diogo Jota had left the pitch well before he did. Defensively the Reds lacked a mould, Virgil van Dijk looked tired and makeshift RB Jarrell Quansah was ruthlessly attacked by Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes.
There have been plenty of times where Liverpool have found ways back into games this season, but at no point did they look like doing so today. The team’s biggest outlet was Chiesa, who hasn’t played since February 9.
The Reds have a 12-point lead in the Premier League, so to say they will lose that feels ludicrous. It would appear this team has hit a wall though, just at the wrong time.
Hometown Hero
Blyth born and raised, this was Dan Burn’s moment and boy did he take it.
Earlier this week, Burn was a surprise inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, today he scored the goal to set his hometown team on their way to lifting a trophy.
On 45 minutes, Burn leaped over the powerless (and strangely positioned) Alexis Mac Allister to head the Toon into the lead. From then onwards, Newcastle controlled the game, with Burn finally getting to play at his more natural CB, pocketing any Liverpool attacker who came his way.
Burn was part of the team that lost to Manchester United in this fixture two seasons ago, this time the defender looked a different player. Eddie Howe had tried to take some of the emotion out of the build up this time, it quickly showed. This Newcastle team were here to win.
Somethings are written to happen, and Burn scoring for his boyhood club, at Wembley, to help his team win a trophy for the first time in 70 years, is certainly one of those things.
Isak, Isak, Isak
Everyone who’s watched the Premier League this season knows just how much of menace Alexander Isak can be. A player destined for the top who wrote himself into Newcastle folklore today.
Isak was one of the big names mentioned before the game today, control him, you probably control Newcastle. Instead, Liverpool didn’t come close on the ball and off it, the forward ran the game.
The Sweden International had only nine touches in the first half but was constantly a threat with his timed runs and movement off defenders. This didn’t stop in the second half; it was only a matter of time before he scored.
On 53 minutes, Liverpool’s CBs forget Isak existed, Jacob Murphy beat out Andy Robertson, found Isak in the box and you know what happened next.
For Liverpool, today’s performance may go down as one of their worst in a major final, they looked tired, both physically and mentally and offered very little going forward. Despite this, nothing should be taken away from how Eddie Howe approached the game with his Newcastle team. The Magpies had learnt from their mistakes, they were fast on the approach, they never pulled from the press, set up well for set pieces, controlled Liverpool’s midfield and pocketed any ball over the top.
Whilst Liverpool will be searching for answers, Newcastle came to Wembley and left their heart and soul on that pitch. It is them who leave cup winners, for the first time in 70 years. It will be some night on Tyneside.
