In a historic Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium, Newcastle United defeated Liverpool 2-1, securing their first domestic trophy since 1955.
The match began with Newcastle displaying early dominance. Their persistence paid off just before halftime when defender Dan Burn, recently called up to the England squad, headed in Kieran Trippier’s corner, giving Newcastle a deserved lead.
Shortly after the break, Newcastle doubled their advantage. Tino Livramento’s cross found Jacob Murphy, whose header set up Alexander Isak to score from close range, sending the Newcastle fans into jubilation.
Liverpool struggled to find their rhythm, with star forward Mohamed Salah uncharacteristically failing to register a shot or create a chance—a first in his 391 appearances for the club.
In stoppage time, substitute Federico Chiesa pulled one back for Liverpool, but it proved too late to alter the outcome.
This victory not only ended Newcastle’s 70-year domestic trophy drought but also secured them a spot in next season’s UEFA Conference League.
For Liverpool, the defeat capped a challenging week, following their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain.Head coach Arne Slot acknowledged Newcastle’s physical dominance, particularly in aerial duels, as a significant factor in the match.
The triumph was especially poignant for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who reflected on personal sacrifices and dedicated the win to the club’s passionate supporters.
The celebrations that followed were a testament to the significance of this achievement for Newcastle United and their fans, marking the end of a seven-decade wait for silverware.
Here are the player ratings from that match:
Liverpool:
- Caoimhin Kelleher (Goalkeeper): Made some crucial saves but was beaten by Burn’s header and Isak’s close-range finish.
- Jarell Quansah (Right Back): Struggled to fill the void left by Alexander-Arnold, lacking attacking impact. Rating: 3/10.
- Ibrahima Konaté (Centre Back): Had difficulty dealing with Isak’s movement and was substituted early in the second half. Rating: 4/10.
- Virgil van Dijk (Centre Back): Made several clearances but couldn’t prevent the goals. Rating: 6/10.
- Andy Robertson (Left Back): Energetic performance but was beaten in the air for Newcastle’s second goal. Rating: 4/10.
- Ryan Gravenberch (Midfielder): Struggled against Newcastle’s physical midfield and was moved to center-back later.
- Alexis Mac Allister (Midfielder): Overwhelmed by Newcastle’s midfield and lost Burn for the opening goal. Rating: 3/10.
- Dominik Szoboszlai (Midfielder): Couldn’t find space to influence the game and was outperformed by Newcastle’s
- Mohamed Salah (Forward): Had minimal impact, failing to register a shot or create chances—a first in his 391 appearances for the club. Rating: 2/10.
- Diogo Jota (Forward): Offered little threat and missed a half-chance before halftime. Rating: 2/10.
- Luis Diaz (Forward): Tried to create opportunities but couldn’t get past Trippier. Rating: 4/10.
Substitutes:
- Darwin Nunez: Struggled to make an impact after coming on. Rating: 3/10.
- Curtis Jones: Added some drive to Liverpool’s midfield but couldn’t change the outcome. Rating: 6/10.
- Cody Gakpo: Looked off the pace, possibly due to recent injury. Rating: 4/10.
- Harvey Elliott: Provided an assist for Chiesa’s goal and showed some creativity. Rating: 6/10.
- Federico Chiesa: Scored a late consolation goal and was lively during his time on the pitch. Rating: 7/10.
Newcastle United:
- Nick Pope (Goalkeeper): Made crucial saves to maintain Newcastle’s lead. Rating: 8/10.
- Kieran Trippier (Right Back): Provided the assist for Burn’s goal and was solid defensively. Rating: 8/10.
- Fabian Schär (Centre Back): Commanding presence in defense, dealing well with Liverpool’s attacks. Rating: 8/10.
- Dan Burn (Centre Back): Scored the opening goal and was dominant defensively. Rating: 10/10.
- Tino Livramento (Left Back): Assisted Isak’s goal and was effective both defensively and offensively. Rating: 8/10.
- Bruno Guimarães (Midfielder): Controlled the midfield and linked play effectively. Rating: 8/10.
- Sandro Tonali (Midfielder): Provided energy and defensive cover in midfield. Rating: 7/10.
- Joelinton (Midfielder): Dominated the midfield battles and disrupted Liverpool’s play. Rating: 9/10.
- Jacob Murphy (Right Forward): Won the aerial duel leading to Isak’s goal and was a constant threat. Rating: 8/10.
- Alexander Isak (Centre Forward): Scored the second goal and was a constant menace to Liverpool’s defense. Rating: 9/10.
- Harvey Barnes (Left Forward): Provided width and pace, troubling Liverpool’s defense. Rating: 7/10.
