Newcastle United are 2025 Carabao Cup winners as goals either side of half-time by Dan Burn and Alexander Isak earn the Magpies a hard-fought 2-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday.
The win gives Newcastle, who were losing finalists in the same competition two years ago, their first silverware in 70 years.
Both sides arrived in England’s capital city with contrasting results in the past week – the Magpies had beaten West Ham United 1-0 at the London stadium in a Premier League fixture while Liverpool lost on penalties to French outfit PSG to crash out of the UEFA Champions League.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle were the better team from the onset at Wembley and posed the greater threat in the opening period, with Sandro Tonali flashing a shot wide past the post early on.
Liverpool appeared to be suffering a hangover from their Champions League exit in midweek as they struggled to create goalscoring chances despite having a better share of ball.
Eventually, it was the Magpies that put their noses in front on the stroke of half-time, as a corner-kick from Kieran Trippier was met by local hero Dan Burn with a powerful header which flew past the diving Caoimhin Kelleher in goal for the Reds.
Alexander Isak thought he had scored the second within minutes of the second half as Newcastle looked to extend their slender advantage only for the striker’s goal to be ruled out for offside.
It did not take long for the Swede to celebrate, though, as he doubled Newcastle’s advantage in the 52nd minute when Jacob Murphy’s cushioned a headed pass for Isak to fire a first-time half-volley past Kelleher to send the Toon fans reeling with ecstasy.
Isak’s goal roused Liverpool to life and substitute Curtis Jones forced Newcastle keeper Nick Pope into making a brilliant save to beat away his fierce drive, while Isak was denied a second from close range soon after by Kelleher.
Reds boss Arne Slot made a raft of substitutions in a bid to launch a comeback and the Merseyside outfit soon got their reward albeit a late consolation, with Federico Chiesa sweeping home in the 94th minute following a through pass from fellow substitute Harvey Elliott.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside but later given after consultation with VAR. But that was as good as it got for the abysmal Reds as the final whistle saw Newcastle end seven decades of despair and triggered celebrations in the Geordie end of Wembley.
Newcastle’s title win makes Eddie Howe the first English manager since Harry Redknapp in 2008 to win a major title – the club’s first domestic trophy since the FA Cup success over Manchester City way back in 1955.