Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle United
The long, long wait is over and finally, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United have picked up a trophy, beating Arne Slot’s Liverpool to become the 2025 EFL Cup champions
This was Newcastle’s chance to make history and boyhood Magpies fan Dan Burn set them on their way with a towering header in first half injury time. The red hot Alexander Isak made it 2-0 and while Federico Chiesa pulled one back in the dying minutes the Geordies deservedly held on to end a 70 year wait for silverware.
But Liverpool, who were in four competitions not so long ago have only the Premier League left to play in…they’ll win it surely, but right now Slot’s men have suffered a terrible week, crashing out of the Champions League too.
Wembley is black and white and the North East of England will be the place to be on Sunday night.
Highlights of the game
Newcastle were superb in the first half, full of energy and desire and they bossed the runaway league leaders who barely showed up as Magpies goalie Nick Pope had a strangely quiet half. And it was no surprise when the underdogs got their noses in front.
45 minutes on the clock and Newcastle struck. It was the Geordies’ first League Cup final goal since 1976 when Alan Gowling scored in the final defeat to Manchester City and it was a goal for the ages. Kieran Trippier swung over a corner and Burn rose to power home a header from 15 yards, worthy of the great Newcastle strikers, Jackie Milburn, Malcolm MacDonald and Alan Shearer…and it was a centre back who lifted the roof off the stadium.
Take a look at the Carabao Cup 2025 highlights; I’m sure Burn has already!
Slot had work to do and the Reds came out firing in the second half but, within seven minutes of the restart they were 2-0 down. A minute after Isak had a goal harshly ruled offside he met a knockdown with a first time shot sweeping the ball home, again from 15 yards. The Black and Whites were in dreamland but, as every football fan knows, 2-0 is a precarious score line and the next goal can be crucial.
Liverpool went three at the back and threw more attacking options on, with Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliot, Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo all coming on to join Mo Salah, making them more vulnerable to the breakaway. But Newcastle stayed in control and were content to see the clock tick away, but there were some nerves in the stands when eight minutes of added time were signalled.
And even more nerves in the Newcastle end when Federico Chiesa broke through and finished brilliantly with four minutes remaining. Virgil Van Dijk joined the Liverpool attack but the Geordies kept the ball, and their heads, superbly and, when the final whistle sounded the noise was deafening.
Key statistics
Newcastle won a first domestic trophy in 70 long years and a first ever Carabao Cup, while Liverpool were looking for back-to-back EFL Cup wins and a record 11th in history.
The Carabao Cup 2025 betting odds here at SBOTOP predicted a comfortable Liverpool victory but the Geordies had a half time lead thanks to Burn’s colossal header. And it was no more than Howe’s team deserved as they registered nine shots to Liverpool’s one and three to nil on target. In the entire first half Liverpool had just two touches in the Magpies’ penalty area…just two!
Newcastle were the better team throughout, winning the final shot count by 17 to seven and six to two on target, and they ended a run of nine consecutive Wembley defeats, as well as avenging an FA Cup final loss to Liverpool back in 1974.
What’s next?
Now we enter an international break and many of the players on show at Wembley today will be playing for their countries in the UEFA Nations League and some in the
World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Liverpool have strong representation for the Netherlands in their clash with European Champions Spain, while the pick of the Nations League quarter finals sees Italy take on Germany. In South America the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers are in full flow and there is a top two clash between Argentina and Uruguay while fourth placed Colombia face fifth placed Brazil.
And then it’s back to Premier League action. Second placed Arsenal were at home to Chelsea on Sunday and edged it 1-0 to reduce the gap at the top of the table to 12 points. Next up for leaders Liverpool it is the Merseyside Derby at Anfield against David Moyes’ rapidly improving Everton, while Newcastle face Brentford as the race for Champions League places intensifies.
But tonight the Magpies have struck gold and it’s time to celebrate!
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