Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak saw Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-1 to win 2024-25 Carabao Cup, and end 70 years of domestic hurt.
Burn headed Newcastle in front from a 45th minute corner following a dominant first-half display, just days after the 32 year-old defender had earned his first senior call-up for England.
Isak wrapped up victory and their first title in this competition with a 52nd minute strike from Jacob Murphy’s knockdown header.
Federico Chiesa netted a 94th minute consolatory goal for Liverpool as Arne Slot’s Reds mounted a late futile fightback.
The victory marked Newcastle’s first title in this competition and ended a 70-year wait since their last major domestic honour, although they did win 1968-69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on an international level.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes was delighted to say that the Magpies are “champions again”, as he compared the title to winning a World Cup.
“We can now say we are the champions again. This is one of the best days of my life.
“I don’t have any words. It’s the best day of my life. For them [the fans] it’s like the World Cup. People have grown up and not seen us as champions. My first year as captain of this club and it’s one of the best days. This is unbelievable.”
Having gone 70 years without domestic silverware since they won 1954-55 FA Cup, Newcastle made a positive start to try and end that rot as Harvey Barnes flicked wide a fourth-minute cross from Sandro Tonali.
Liverpool are currently Premier League leaders but struggled to get going after a painful Champions League exit against PSG last midweek, although their defence were lucky that Murphy rifled his 15th-minute shot over the bar.
Newcastle continued to look energetic with a fast-flowing one-touch style which nearly paid off in the 24th minute, after a quick one-two move involving Isak and Barnes was cut back towards Tonali who curled just wide of the bottom-right corner.
Murphy then won a set-piece barely a minute later from which Burn nodded down for Bruno Guimaraes, but the Brazilian couldn’t create a powerful shot as Caoimhin Kelleher made a comfortable save at his right post.
Kelleher again saved Liverpool’s bacon with a calm save of Guimaraes’ 34th-minute flick-on header from close-range as the Brazilian met Burn’s initial header.
Newcastle’s passionate first-half performance eventually got rewarded on the cusp of half-time as Barnes forced a block from Ibrahima Konate, which led to the corner-kick being thumped in by Burn to spark wild celebrations amongst the Newcastle players and fans alike.
Burn’s goal however sparked Liverpool into life as Mohamed Salah knocked down a cross for Diogo Jota, yet the Portuguese forward could only smash wide unmarked, as Arne Slot’s Reds found themselves behind at half-time in a third consecutive match.
If Liverpool hoped that half-time would rejuvenate their hopes of a comeback, those dreams were dealt a heavy blow just seven minutes into the second half after Newcastle were able to attack up the Reds’ left with Livramento’s cross knocked down by Murphy for Isak to fire into the left corner and double the Magpies’ lead.
Isak moments earlier had a goal disallowed after Guimaraes was deemed to had impeded Kelleher’s eyesight.
Aware of Liverpool’s quality and rich history in this competition, Newcastle continued to push for a third goal to end 70 years of hurt but Kelleher denied Isak’s on-the-turn attempt in the 64th minute, before Fabian Schar fired wide on the follow-up.
Liverpool attempted to mount a late comeback but often lacked much penetrating end product to trouble Nick Pope, aside from Chiesa’s 94th minute strike from Harvey Elliott’s pass which proved futile as Newcastle mounted a solid defensive display to see out the match and seal their first domestic trophy in 70 years.
The title also guaranteed European qualification for Newcastle who will go into the UEFA Conference League, unless they finish in the Premier League’s top six which would see them join Champions League or Europa League depending on their league finish
What’s Next?
Liverpool won’t return from the international break until Wednesday 2 April which will see them host Everton at Anfield in the Merseyside derby at 8pm GMT in the Premier League.
Newcastle too will return to top-flight action that same night at home as they host Brentford at St James’ Park at 7:45pm.
Teams
Liverpool: Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarrell Quansah, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate (Jones 57′), Andrew Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister (Gakpo 67′), Ryan Gravenberch (Chiesa 74′), Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota (Nunez 57′), Luis Diaz (Elliott 74′)
Substitutes: Alisson, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, James McConnell, Darwin Nunez, Konstantinos Tsimikas,
Newcastle: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak (Wilson 81′), Harvey Barnes (Willock 81′)
Substitutes: Martin Dubravka, Emil Krafth, Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley, Sean Neave, William Osula, Matt Targett, Joe Willock, Callum Wilson
Referee – John Brooks
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