Newcastle defeats Liverpool in the League Cup final to break their trophy drought

Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored goals in each half to help Newcastle United defeat champions Liverpool 2-1 and end a 70-year domestic trophy drought, setting up a Geordie celebration at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Newcastle’s dominant first half performance was rewarded in the 45th minute when Burn, a local hero, hammered home a header to send his team on their way to a memorable victory.

Supported by a sea of black-and-white-clad supporters, Newcastle gained control of the championship match seven minutes after halftime when Swedish forward Isak beat Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher with a sweeping shot.

Defining Premier League leaders With a goal by Federico Chiesa in stoppage time, Liverpool cut the lead in half, but the damage was already done, as Eddie Howe’s Newcastle team won the team’s first domestic trophy since 1955.

After losing to Manchester United in the League Cup final two years ago—their ninth consecutive defeat at Wembley—Newcastle was resolved to leave their mark on the annals of football history by harnessing the passion of their fans.

Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, who joined the team following the 2021 buyout supported by Saudi Arabia, declared, “It’s all for these fans,” before hoisting the trophy into the air.

“This is for these fans only. They’re deserving of everything. I stated when I first arrived here that I intended to make history. We may now claim to be the winners once more.

However, after losing to Paris St. Germain on penalties on Tuesday, Liverpool looked flat and seemed to be going through a Champions League hangover.

For the first time in his Liverpool career, talisman Mohamed Salah did not create a chance or have a shot during a 90-minute game. That statistic perfectly captured the Reds’ day.

The Dutchman will not have a pleasant memory of manager Arne Slot’s first Wembley final, but Liverpool will undoubtedly win the Premier League barring a catastrophe.

“A disappointing result and disappointing performance,” stated the coach. “The match proceeded just how Newcastle had hoped. Their victory was well-earned.

A MORE SERIOUS RISK

Sandro Tonali blasted a shot beyond the post as Newcastle appeared to be the more dangerous team in the cagey first half.

Burn’s maiden England call-up this week sent Newcastle’s supporters into a frenzy. Prior to that, Liverpool was determined to reach halftime all square and appeared to be accomplishing that modest goal.

In 2022, the little Alexis Mac Allister marked the tall center defender, who had returned to the club of his youth, for Kieran Trippier’s corner. It was an easy header past the diving Kelleher.

This was Burn’s first goal of the season and Newcastle’s first goal at Wembley in 25 years, following Rob Lee’s strike against Chelsea in a losing FA Cup semi-final.

Their next objective was quickly attained, and this time it came from a more plausible source.

Jacob Murphy headed a cross into the path of the Swede seven minutes after the interval, and the Swede, as fast as a flash, swept a shot past Kelleher in front of the gathering black and white crowd.

In a city that has long admired its center strikers, from Jackie Milburn to Shearer, Isak has now scored 23 goals this season and is the new cult hero.

When Liverpool finally woke up, replacement Curtis Jones caused Newcastle keeper Nick Pope to stop his ferocious drive, but Slot’s bewildered team nearly lost when Kelleher stopped Isak from close range.

The great majority of Newcastle’s supporters were not even born when they defeated Manchester City in the 1955 FA Cup final, thus after such a lengthy wait, there would always be drama.

Chiesa’s brilliant goal, which was first disallowed by VAR, made sure that a few thousand fingernails were bitten in stoppage time, but the final whistle put an end to decades of hopelessness and set off Geordie celebrations throughout the capital.