Newcastle United ended a 56-year trophy drought by securing a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the English League Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak propelled Eddie Howe’s side to a historic win, etching their names into the annals of English football history.
The Magpies’ journey back to the pinnacle of domestic football hasn’t been easy. Their last taste of silverware came with the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a relic of a bygone era. Since then, the club has faced five relegations and watched as 30 other English teams claimed various titles. In contrast, Liverpool has amassed 38 major trophies over the same period.
This triumph marks Newcastle’s first major domestic prize since the 1955 FA Cup. According to club manager Eddie Howe, “We were well aware of the history and we wanted to do the club proud. We are breaking new ground.” His words resonate with the aspirations of Newcastle fans, who transformed half of Wembley into a sea of black and white during the celebrations.
The resurgence of Newcastle began in earnest in 2021, following a Saudi-backed consortium’s takeover from the much-maligned former owner Mike Ashley. This financial backing, combined with Howe’s strategic leadership, has turned the team from relegation candidates to cup winners.
For Liverpool, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, especially coming on the heels of a Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain. Despite falling short of securing their first trophy under manager Arne Slot, Liverpool still maintains a commanding 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League standings.
Slot conceded, “It’s a very disappointing result. The game went the way Newcastle wanted it. They deserved to win.” Liverpool’s performance was marred by sluggishness and uncharacteristic errors, leaving them 23 points ahead of Newcastle in the league but unable to extend their 17-game unbeaten run against the Magpies, dating back to 2015.
The final was defined by Newcastle’s relentless energy and tactical prowess. Burn’s header in the 45th minute, marking Newcastle’s first cup final goal since 1976, set the tone. As Isak doubled the lead shortly after halftime, the Magpies’ confidence soared. Despite Federico Chiesa’s late strike for Liverpool, Newcastle held firm, igniting celebrations that were over half a century in the making.
Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton embodied Newcastle’s fiery spirit, with the latter’s defensive heroics drawing applause from fans. Meanwhile, Burn’s performance was doubly sweet, coming just days after his first call-up to the England national team.
