Newcastle United defeated Liverpool FC to finally secure glory and win the Carabao Cup in a 2-1 victory at Wembley.
Newcastle had not won a major domestic trophy in 70 years but Dan Burn’s bullet header and a stunning Alexander Isak finish secured Eddie Howe’s side victory despite a late scare after Federico Chiesa’s goal, following a VAR check.
Arne Slot’s side had found themselves 2-0 down and set up a grand stand finish when Chiesa’s goal was belatedly given after a two-minute VAR check.
But the Reds could not bounce back from a demoralising penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and the wait for a first trophy under Arne Slot will rely on them holding on in the Premier League title race.
Follow all the reaction to Liverpool vs Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final, below:
‘I’m delighted for Eddie Howe’
Gary Neville says: “I’m delighted for Eddie Howe, I really am.”
Newcastle win the Carabao Cup
Newcastle are the Carabao Cup champions!
Here come Newcastle.
They walk up the steps and collect their medals. Kieran Trippier, the captain who lost this final two years ago, grabs one handle of the trophy.
Bruno Guimaraes, who captained the team to victory today, grabs the other.
Together they hoist the trophy high and the crowds at Wembley go wild.
Newcastle have done it. They’ve ended their long wait and the celebrations begin again.
‘Newcastle battered Liverpool’
Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back when assessing the game on Sky Sports.
He said: “They battered Liverpool, it should have been three or four nil.
“I find it difficult to be too critical, Liverpool were poor at Paris Saint-Germain but Newcastle wiped the floor with them.
“Liverpool ran out of steam, thankfully they’ve got a big lead in the Premier League and can see that home.”
Liverpool receive runners-up medals
The Liverpool players have already made their way up the Wembley steps and received their runners-up medals.
It’s the longest walk in football and a disappointing one for Arne Slot’s Reds.
‘It’s the best day of my life’
More reaction from Newcastle’s captain. Bruno Guimaraes says this is the ‘best day of his life’ after leading the Magpies to their first major trophy since 1955.
He said: “I don’t have any words. It’s the best day of my life. For them [the fans] it’s like the World Cup. People have grown up and not seen us as champions. My first year as captain of this club and it’s one of the best days. This is unbelievable.
“This is my second home. We are making history. Some day when I leave this club I want the fans to sing my name the way they do to Shearer. He text me before the game. I’m so emotional today.”
A touch of class from Van Dijk
As the Newcastle players huddled together to begin the celebrations Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk went across and shook the hands of each of them.
He’ll be suffering but showed a touch of class with that gesture in a painful moment.
‘They deserve everything’
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes gave his immediate reaction to Sky Sports saying:
“It’s all for these fans. They deserve everything. When I first came here I said I wanted to put my name in history.
“We can now say we are the champions again. This is one of the best days of my life.”
FT Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle
Liverpool vs Newcastle player ratings as Mohamed Salah anonymous in Wembley defeat
Arne Slot will have to wait for Liverpool’s coronation as Premier League champions for his first trophy, in what has been a painful week for the Reds after defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in midweek.
But the day belonged to Newcastle, who from magnificent in avenging their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United two years ago. Local hero Burn was left unmarked to head in the opening goal, before star striker Isak doubled their lead in front of the jubilant Newcastle fans at Wembley.
Here are how the players rated at Wembley