A 56-year wait for a major trophy is over for Newcastle United after defeating Liverpool 2-1 to win the EFL Cup final on Sunday. Goals from boyhood Newcastle fan Dan Burn and their talisman Alexander Isak were enough to defeat a Liverpool side that entered the week with a chance to win three trophies and will exit it only remaining in the running for one, the Premier League.
Stoppage time got nervy with Federico Chiesa scoring and bringing Liverpool within one goal in the 94th minute of play, but even Virgil Van Djik going forward as a center forward wouldn’t stop the eventual Newcastle celebration.
It’s quite a moment that Newcastle have been building toward since Eddie Howe took over as manager in November of 2021, and no matter what, they’ll be in European play for the second time since the 2023-24 season. Sitting sixth in the Premier League, one point behind Manchester City, Newcastle can still finish in a Champions League position this season which will be their next goal, but Sunday is for celebration.
That’s quite a contrast to how things will feel with Liverpool. Coming into the season, Arne Slot would have been incredibly happy with only winning the Premier League, but coming so close to winning multiple trophies, the Reds will want to refocus for the run in where they’re still expected to win the league.
Newcastle’s midfield was a driving force behind the victory with the versatile Joelinton putting in a shift, Bruno Guimaraes popping up everywhere and Sandro Tonali helping them all keep balance in the match, leading to absolute joy at Wembley and the end of a long, long drought.
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