Newcastle Ends 70-Year Trophy Drought with 2-1 Victory Over Liverpool in Carabao Cup Final.
Newcastle United secured a 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, ending their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy. This historic win at Wembley Stadium in the Carabao Cup final marked their first major silverware since 1955, as they claimed the first piece of silverware in the 2024/25 football season, according to PUNCH Online.
The EFL final began with both teams playing cautiously. Newcastle broke the deadlock just before halftime, as defender Dan Burn scored a header from a corner in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, the Magpies continued to dominate. Alexander Isak doubled their lead in the 52nd minute after capitalizing on a defensive error by Liverpool. Despite several substitutions by Liverpool manager Arne Slot, including the introductions of Curtis Jones and Darwin Núñez, the Reds struggled to break down Newcastle’s resolute defense.
Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa pulled one back in injury time (90+4), raising hopes for a dramatic comeback, but it was too little, too late for the Premier League leaders. The final whistle confirmed Newcastle’s 2-1 victory, ending their 70-year trophy drought, as reported by The Guardian.
Coaches’ Reactions
The win also marked Eddie Howe’s first cup victory as a manager. The Newcastle boss praised his team, saying, “This is a dream come true for the club and the fans. The players showed incredible heart and determination to achieve this historic win.”
Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot, visibly disappointed, acknowledged the loss, admitting, “We weren’t good enough in the critical moments. Newcastle deserved the win; they were the better team on the day.”
Player Comments
Dan Burn, who scored the opening goal for Newcastle, expressed his emotions after the match: “To score in a final and help the club end this long wait is beyond words. This is for the fans who have stood by us all these years.”
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, despite the disappointment, showed sportsmanship by congratulating Newcastle and acknowledging their impressive performance.
Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville, often known for his emotional commentary, was visibly moved, stating, “I’m almost crying seeing what this means to Newcastle fans. This is what football is all about—moments like these.”
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, who was present at Wembley, joined in the celebrations, saying, “This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. It’s been a long journey, but this victory shows the strength and passion of this club.”
Fans worldwide celebrated the historic win, flooding social media with tributes to the players and manager, marking the end of a 70-year drought for domestic silverware.
A post-match statement on the EPL website pointed out, “Only Newcastle fans well into their 60s will have experienced this feeling before, ruling out most of those at Wembley today, including Alan Shearer, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, who wasn’t even born the last time the club won a major trophy: the 1969 Fairs Cup. It’s been over half a century without silverware, with their last major domestic title coming in the 1955 FA Cup, and they had never won the EFL Cup.”
