LONDON—The longstanding anticipation for a triumphant moment has concluded for Newcastle United. The club, backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, emerged victorious against Liverpool, winning 2-1 on Sunday to claim the English League Cup, thereby ending a 70-year trophy drought.
The memorable victory at Wembley was secured by goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak, one each side of halftime. Although Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa netted a late goal, Newcastle firmly held their ground. “After 70 years, we can finally proclaim ourselves as champions again,” expressed a tearful Bruno Guimaraes, the captain of Newcastle. “This is one of the greatest days of my life.”
Newcastle last celebrated a major domestic trophy with the FA Cup in 1955 and clinched the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969. This League Cup marks their first significant silverware since the club’s acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund in 2021, a move intended to revitalize this historic club. Burn powered in a header just before the break, followed by Isak expanding the lead in the 52nd minute. Despite Chiesa’s late effort to reignite Liverpool’s challenge, Newcastle’s resilience prevailed, sparking exuberant celebrations among their supporters.
Liverpool, currently sitting 12 points ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, faced a setback in their pursuit of a 20th English title and failed to deliver manager Arne Slot his first trophy since taking over from Jurgen Klopp. The loss added to Liverpool’s recent hardships, following their Champions League exit after a penalty defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. “Even Liverpool can lose football games,” Slot acknowledged, noting that significant opposition often arises deep in competitions.
Newcastle has experienced near misses in their trophy pursuits, including consecutive FA Cup final losses in the late ’90s and a League Cup final defeat to Manchester United in more recent times. Yet, Eddie Howe’s tactical acumen saw his side outclass a formidable Liverpool team typically dominant in the league this season. “There aren’t many chances at cup finals. Today, our players thrived under pressure,” Howe remarked, highlighting their ability to compete against top-tier teams.
Fans of Newcastle, who fervently cheered at Wembley, anticipate that this triumph marks the beginning of something substantial with their new owners at the helm. Financial fair play regulations have restricted Newcastle’s spending, contrasting with Manchester City and PSG’s levels of investment. Despite a modest outlay of $36 million and recouping $100 million in sales last summer, significant acquisitions like Burn and Isak have demonstrated their value.
In other news, Arsenal closed the gap on Liverpool with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Premier League, owing to Mikel Merino’s decisive first-half header. The win gave Arsenal a boost in their pursuit despite their title hopes dwindling recently. Mikel Arteta emphasized the importance of focusing on upcoming matches to improve their standing.
In another Premier League fixture, Manchester United celebrated a commanding 3-0 win over Leicester. Rasmus Hojlund broke his goalless streak, and subsequent goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes sealed the win, climbing United to 13th. However, teenager Ayden Heaven’s promising debut ended prematurely due to a severe-looking injury while defending.
Meanwhile, Tottenham faced disappointment with a 2-0 defeat against Fulham, increasing pressure on coach Ange Postecoglou. “We have lost too many matches that we should have secured results from,” Postecoglou conceded, highlighting the need for a strategic recharge over the international break. Fulham’s goals from Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon positioned them in eighth place, trailing Chelsea by four points in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
