Liverpool 1 – 2 Newcastle

Newcastle ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy as they beat holders Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup final.

The Magpies won the 1955 FA Cup final, but their next five final appearances (three FA Cup, two League Cup) had each ended in defeat – the last of which came in 2023, when they lost 2-0 to Man Utd in this very fixture.

A towering header from boyhood Newcastle fan Dan Burn just before the break and a sublime finish from talisman Alexander Isak just after the restart put Toon on course for a victory generations had longed for.

And though Federico Chiesa’s 94th-minute goal – confirmed after a lengthy VAR review – set up a tense finale, it was not enough to help Liverpool find the equaliser that would have sent the game to extra-time.

There was plenty of discussion about the Newcastle hoodoo in the build-up to the game. The fans were desperate for it to end, and the players did not let that expectation weigh them down. A confident start kept the black and white end of Wembley vocal throughout.

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Jacob Murphy and Sandro Tonali passed up decent opportunities with shots from distance as they looked to capitalise on a fast start, before Andy Robertson blocked efforts from Isak and Kieran Trippier. Bruno Guimaraes then directed a header straight at Caoimhin Kelleher.

Liverpool managed just a single shot in the first half and only two touches in the opposition box, so it seemed it would be just Newcastle’s luck to concede a penalty when the ball struck Trippier’s hand as he attempted to hook it out of the box. VAR reviewed the incident, but decided there had been no foul play.

In the first minute of stoppage time, they got the reward they deserved. Burn darted into the box from out wide, met an outswinging corner and planted a brilliant header home from 15 yards out. It was the stuff of dreams for the boyhood Toon fan.

It got better less than 10 minutes into the second half when Isak – moments after seeing a close-range finish ruled out for offside – swept a second into the bottom left corner after Jacob Murphy headed Tino Livramento’s cross into an inviting spot in the box.

Substitute Curtis Jones forced a superb one-handed save from Nick Pope just before the hour, but despite Arne Slot effectively deploying a front four as the conclusion neared, there was to be no onslaught.

In the 94th minute, Chiesa scampered through on goal and slid the ball home, but though he was initially flagged offside, VAR reviewed the incident, drew the lines and awarded the goal around two minutes later. But it was too late for the Reds. The damage was done.

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