CARABAO CUP FINAL - NEWCASTLE 2-1 LIVERPOOL - MATCH REPORT: SEE IT TO BELIEVE

Generational win to truly get a new era started.

Newcastle United ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy, defeating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup final.

Read that again.

Newcastle United ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy, defeating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup final.

How does that feel?

And because you cannot write a better story, goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak were the ones securing the victory, giving Eddie Howe’s team their first major silverware since the 1955 FA Cup.

Liverpool entered the match as favorites, but Newcastle started with intensity, pressing high and dictating the early tempo, putting the Reds’ backs against a wall they’d never find a way to clear.

Sandro Tonali sent an early warning shot past the post, while Newcastle’s midfield trio of Tonali, Joelinton, and Bruno Guimarães controlled the first half.

Liverpool struggled to create, managing only one shot and two touches in Newcastle’s box before halftime. Just imagine!

The breakthrough came in stoppage time. Kieran Trippier delivered a corner to the back post, where Burn, unmarked by the much smaller Alexis Mac Allister, powered a header across goal and past Caoimhin Kelleher.

The Newcastle end of Wembley erupted as Burn, a boyhood fan of the club and legitimate Magpie, celebrated a goal that put Newcastle on the verge of history.

Seven minutes into the second half, Isak doubled Newcastle’s lead.

After having a close-range finish ruled out for offside moments earlier, the Swedish striker capitalized on Jacob Murphy’s header across goal, sweeping his shot into the bottom left corner.

Newcastle were in control, while Liverpool, still dealing with the fatigue of their midweek Champions League elimination at the hands of PSG—who Newcastle trounced not long ago—struggled to respond.

Substitute Curtis Jones forced Nick Pope into a sharp save just before the hour mark, but Newcastle continued to look the more dangerous side and, hey, it’s not that Pope didn’t deserve his own moment to laugh at the Scousers.

Arne Slot adjusted Liverpool’s shape late on, pushing more attackers forward, yet Newcastle’s defensive organization held firm.

Deep into stoppage time, Federico Chiesa broke through and slid a finish past Pope. Initially flagged offside, VAR confirmed the goal, setting up a tense final minute.

But Newcastle held out, sealing a victory that ended decades of near misses and disappointments and also that, hopefully, kickstart an era of true and absolute dominance.

After the match, Howe praised his team’s effort and all of the now-legendary Geordie boys.

“I’m so pleased for the players, for the supporters, for everyone connected with the club,” Howe said. “It’s been a long time coming, but tonight we showed what this team is capable of.”

Newcastle will return to Premier League action on April 2 against Brentford, now as Carabao Cup champions, and with sculptors taking Howe’s measures for the inevitable statue that will soon grace the new Newcastle stadium.

Howay!

- Chapulana

'I HAVE TO SAY' - EDDIE HOWE BLOWN AWAY BY WHAT LIVERPOOL PLAYERS DID AFTER NEWCASTLE UNITED FINAL LOSS

Newcastle United finally ended their 70-year wait for silverware as they earned a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

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Eddie Howe praised the dignity that Liverpool showed after their Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle United.

The Magpies finally ended their 70-year wait for a trophy as they delivered a 2-1 win at Wembley. Newcastle were fully deserving of their triumph, with Dan Burn opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time before Alexander Isak doubled the advantage minutes in the second period.

While Federico Chiesa bagged in second-half stoppage-time for Liverpool, Howe’s men saw the triumph out comfortable to send the Toon Army wild. The Reds missed out on a chance to win a maiden trophy of the Arne Slot era although they are Premier League champions-elect.

What’s been said

Howe suffered Carabao Cup final heartbreak at the hands of Manchester United two years ago. He knows the pain and praised Slot and his players for how they handled defeat. Newcastle chief Howe said: “I’m a firm believer that you’re in control of everything. For me, we had to focus on performance. I have to compliment Liverpool. Liverpool have been the best team in the Premier League by a mile this year and we knew we had to raise our game to have any chance.

“We needed everyone to give their maximum game and I thought they did. I have to give compliments to have Liverpool handled themselves after. We have been there two years ago - it is a horrible feeling. I thought they were absolute class - the manager, the players was really good. The curse stuff for me never existed, it was in our heads.

You are pleased for other people. So pleased for the players. We have all had different journeys. I love working with them every day and an honoured to be their leader. I am so pleased the supporters have this trophy to end the long wait. Hopefully we can get some more in the future. It is amazing what football can do. It is one of the rare sports that has that ability to give people days they will always remember. With the long wait, we will never forget. I certainly won’t. We played against a brilliant opponents, the best team in the Premier League this season.

“Hopefully with one, it can become more. There’s no guarantee, though, but I just think it proves we can do it. I’ve never had any doubts about our ability to lift our game. But you don’t get many shots at this, you don’t get many shots at a cup final. Today we had to try and take our opportunity and that’s where the players delivered under pressure so well and so impressively. It also proved that we can mix our game against the very, very best. Now the challenge for us is to try and get there more often.”

On the changes to preparations from their 2023 loss, Howe commented: “I don’t think we did anything drastically different. We just tried to take away the distractions but the first time we got to Wembley was very emotional, you could sense that in the players the crowd. I don’t think that was necessarily the reason we lost. We tried to take away the distractions, similar to a Premier League build up, we stayed at a quieter hotel. We respect Liverpool but I don’t think you can go on the pitch and fear anyone. I don’t think anyone can begrudge us it.”

- Will Rooney