Newcastle United made history on Sunday, clinching their first major trophy in 56 years with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak sealed the win, capping off a remarkable performance that left the Premier League leaders stunned.
Eddie Howe’s side delivered a masterclass, with Burn breaking the deadlock late in the first half and Isak, who has been in scintillating form this season, adding a second after the interval with his 27th goal in all competitions. Federico Chiesa pulled one back for Liverpool in the dying moments, but Newcastle held firm to secure their first major silverware since winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.
That triumph, in what is now the Europa League, feels like a distant memory, but this long-awaited victory will be forever cherished by the Newcastle faithful. The club’s fans transformed Wembley into a sea of black and white, celebrating wildly as their team ended decades of frustration. This win also marks Newcastle’s first major domestic trophy in 70 years, dating back to their 1955 FA Cup success.
Since their last trophy, 30 different English clubs had lifted silverware, while Liverpool had amassed an astonishing 38 major trophies in the same period. After falling short in the 2023 League Cup final against Manchester United, Newcastle returned to Wembley with a point to prove—and this time, they delivered.
The Magpies’ journey to this moment has been fraught with challenges. Since their 1969 triumph, they suffered five relegations to the second tier, and despite the presence of club legends like Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne, and Malcolm MacDonald, silverware remained elusive. A brief period of promise under Kevin Keegan’s “Entertainers” in the 1990s offered hope, but for much of the past few decades, Newcastle has been synonymous with underachievement and mismanagement.
The tide began to turn in 2021 when a Saudi-backed consortium took over from the unpopular Mike Ashley and appointed Eddie Howe as manager. Under Howe’s guidance and with significant financial backing, Newcastle has undergone a remarkable transformation, rising from relegation candidates to trophy winners.
For Liverpool, the defeat adds to a difficult week following their Champions League exit on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite failing to secure their first trophy under manager Arne Slot, the Reds remain 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League, closing in on a record-equalling 20th English title.
For Newcastle, however, this victory is more than just a trophy—it’s a symbol of a new era. After years of heartbreak and disappointment, the Magpies and their fans can finally celebrate a moment of glory that will be remembered for generations.
