Newcastle stun Liverpool to win Carabao Cup and end 70-year major trophy drought

LIVERPOOL 1-2 NEWCASTLE UNITED: Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak saw Newcastle United stun Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley and end their own trophy drought

Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored either side of the half-time break to help Newcastle United stun Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Final and win their first major trophy in 70 years.

Burn was called into Thomas Tuchel's first England squad and marked the occasion with a well-taken goal. The giant defender escaped the attention of Liverpool's defenders to head home a Kieran Trippier corner moments before the break.

Newcastle thought they had a second goal just five minutes into the second half, with Isak tapping home a rebound. Their celebrations were cut short, though, with Bruno Guimaraes ruled to be offside and interfering with play while stood in front of Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Eddie Howe's side didn't feel sorry for themselves, though, with Isak making no mistake just two minutes on from that disallowed effort. Liverpool might be way out in front in the league, but a stoppage-time goal from Federico Chiesa was too little, too late for Arne Slot's Reds.

Both teams were without senior stars for the match at Wembley. Trent Alexander-Arnold was among those to miss out for Liverpool after picking up an injury against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, while Anthony Gordon was serving a suspension.

The rivals made it to the final with convincing wins in the semis, with Newcastle beating Arsenal and Liverpool overcoming Spurs after losing their first leg. It was a quiet start on Sunday, though, with both sides taking things slowly in the opening quarter of the match.

Sandro Tonali had the first shot to worry either keeper, though the Italian's effort from the edge of the box flashed wide of Caoimhin Kelleher's left-hand post. Newcastle grew in confidence as the first half drew on, and might have gone in front had Bruno Guimaraes got more of a touch on Dan Burn's goalward header.

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The end of the first half is so often spoken of as the best time to score, and so it proved. Newcastle were on top from the moment Burn headed them in front. After Isak made it two, Newcastle could sense a first trophy since the 1969 Fairs Cup - and a first major domestic honour since the 1955 FA Cup - was within touching distance.

With an international break just around the corner, Newcastle will have time for their win to really soak in while Liverpool need to use the time to regroup ahead of the league run-in. Here are Mirror Football's talking points from Wembley.

1. Burn justifying his England call

When Thomas Tuchel called Dan Burn into his England squad, he expressed his surprise that the defender was uncapped. The Newcastle star is comfortable in the middle of a back four or at left-back, but his goal at Wembley was a more classic example of using his height to full advantage.

"I was surprised that Dan was never called up," Tuchel said after selecting the former Brighton man. "He is such a tall guy but obviously it is easy to overlook him."

The giant defender has been a late bloomer of sorts, but not once has he given up on winning a trophy with the club he supported as a lad. If Newcastle fans could have chosen someone to set them on their way to glory, they probably would have gone for him.

2. Isak fires a reminder

One of the pre-match sub-plots concerned the future of Alexander Isak. Liverpool are among those interested in the Sweden striker, with Arsenal also linked, and his finish for 2-0 demonstrated exactly why.

The 2023 final came during an injury-hit season for the frontman, who played just 45 minutes against Manchester United at Wembley. Injury also kept him out of the recent league defeat at Anfield, but he made up for lost time in a big way on Sunday.

Isak has already completed the first part of his task, and his role in Newcastle's first trophy in more than a generation will never b e forgotten. He can make it even better between now and May, though, with a chance to send Howe's side into the Champions League once again.

3. Salah subdued

Mohamed Salah has been the Premier League's stand-out player this season by most people's estimations, but he was made to wait for any sniff of an opportunity against Newcastle. The Egyptian scored twice at St James' Park before Christmas but was a peripheral figure in the opening half hour.

In first-half stoppage-time, he showed what he can do given even half a chance. Newcastle were grateful that his outside-of-the-boot cross didn't lead to a goal, with Diogo Jota unable to find the target after the ball dropped to him in the box.

For all Salah's brilliance, his fellow forwards have been far less prolific of late. He can only do so much on his own, but he cut a lonely figure for much of the game.

4. Keepers repay their managers' faith

Cup keeper Caoimhin Kelleher was given the nod at Wembley, despite his hairy moment in a 3-3 league draw with Newcastle earlier in the season. At the other end, it was Nick Pope who was given the nod after sharing duties with Martin Dubravka over the course of the season.

Irish international Kelleher's first real test came around 25 minutes in when he got down well to smother the ball with Bruno Guimaraes looking to find space for a shot. There was little he could do with the two goals, though, and produced a huge stop shortly after the hour mark to keep it at two.

Pope's key moment came shortly before that, and just moments after Isak scored Newcastle's second. Curtis Jones looked to make an immediate impact when he flashed in a shot, but Pope was smart to it and tipped the effort over.

5. Lively Barnes makes up for Gordon absence

Newcastle's hand was forced somewhat down the left, with Anthony Gordon suspended after his red card against Brighton on the FA Cup. That meant a start for Harvey Barnes, who has been in and out of the starting line-up since joining from Leicester in 2023.

The England international's movement offered a bit of a threat in the first period, but he slightly overhit a pass when given the chance to play in Alexander Isak. He got a half-chance moments before half-time as well, though Ibrahima Konate was quick out to get a block in.

Isak's chance at 2-0 came courtesy of a smart run from Barnes, though perhaps his ball across could have been more precise. Likewise, a more composed pass might have allowed Fabian Schar to make it three with 20 minutes remaining, but it wasn't to be... not that it mattered in the end.

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