Newcastle United will take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium in March.
The Magpies are looking to end a 56-year trophy drought but by no means will it be easy. Liverpool have been unstoppable in the Premier League this season and have blown past opposition in the Champions League.
Newcastle United have been dealt blow after blow in the last few days – they will be without three key players for the Carabao Cup final on March 16. Anthony Gordon was sent off against Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday while it has been confirmed that Sven Botman and Lewis Hall will miss the final after picking up injuries that require surgery.
Newcastle haven’t beaten Liverpool at Anfield since their Carabao Cup fourth-round tie in 1995, where Steve Watson scored the only goal of the game. Luck wasn’t on Eddie Howe’s side in their most recent trip to Merseyside either as Newcastle’s loss to Liverpool earlier in March could be a sign of what’s to come at Wembley.
However, things haven’t been as bad at St James’ Park in the last 30 years. The last win at home against the Reds came in the 2015/16 season when Steve McClaren was in charge. The Magpies were fired up ahead of the clash following a poor start to the season – it also happened to be Jurgen Klopp’s first away defeat as Liverpool boss, succeeding Brendan Rogers.
With the all-important cup final on the way, here is the last XI to beat Liverpool in any competition.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
GK – Rob Elliot
Rob Elliot was a key player in the 2015/16 campaign, playing 21 times. He stayed at the club until 2020 but only played 19 games in the next four seasons.
Spells at Watford and Gateshead followed before Elliot retired and became sporting director of the North East club.
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Elliot is now manager of League One side Crawley Town and is currently fighting to avoid the drop.
RB – Daryl Janmaat
Another important figure in the relegation season, Daryl Janmaat was sensational in defending against a left-hand side of Alberto Moreno, Joe Allen and James Milner.
Janmaat left Newcastle immediately following relegation and formed a good career for himself at Watford and ADO Den Haag, where he is now a technical director.
CB – Fabricio Coloccini
The 2015/16 campaign would be Fabricio Coloccini’s last at Newcastle before returning to San Lorenzo. The Argentine international spent eight years at Newcastle, playing 248 times across the Premier League and Championship.
Coloccini was one of Newcastle’s best captains and has now used his experience on Tyneside in coaching roles. Now 43, Coloccini is assistant manager at Argentine giants Boca Juniors.
CB – Chancel Mbemba
Signed as a young centre-back, Chancel Mbemba was thrown in at the deep end at Newcastle but he held his own against Liverpool that day at St James’ Park.
Mbemba stayed at Newcastle until 2018 before signing for Porto where he won six trophies. Now 30, Mbemba plays for Ligue 1 club Marseille.
LB – Paul Dummett
One of the more recent departures from Newcastle, Paul Dummett was deployed as a left-back against Liverpool and did enough to keep a clean sheet.
Dummett spent 23 years at Newcastle before he was finally released in 2024. Although he didn’t play, Dummett was named in the Magpies Champions League squad for the 2023/24 campaign.
Following a short stint at Wigan, Dummett now plays for Carlisle, signed by former Newcastle defender Mike Williamson.
LM – Georgino Wijnaldum
Undoubtedly the most successful player in this list Georgino Wignaldum was sensational in this game, scoring in stoppage time to secure Newcastle’s 2-0 win.
Wijnaldum left Newcastle following their relegation to the Championship, joining Liverpool where he won the Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
The Dutchman left Liverpool for PSG in 2021 where he won Ligue 1 in the 2021/22 season before being loaned to Jose Mourinho’s Roma the season after.
In 2025, Wijnaldum now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.
CM – Vurnon Anita
Another player who stayed to be managed by Rafael Benitez in the Championship, Vurnon Anita solidified his place in Newcastle’s squad thanks to a number of great performances that season.
Anita was released in 2017 and soon joined Leeds United where he only played 18 games. Spells at CSKA Sofia, RKC Waalwijk, Al-Orobah followed before landing at Voldenam, were Newcastle youngster Garang Kuol spent a season on loan.
CM – Jack Colback
A star who was played in multiple positions that season, Jack Colback probably hasn’t hit the heights expected of him at a young age.
Colback featured frequently in the Championship for Newcastle put spent the next two seasons on loan to Nottingham Forest before joining on a permanent deal in 2020.
The Geordie now plays for Championship side QPR.
RM – Moussa Sissoko
It looked as if Sissoko couldn’t leave fast enough following the Magpies’ relegation.
Sissoko joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2016 following three years on Tyneside. He played in the 2019 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool where he gave away a penalty early into the game.
A season at Watford followed before spending two years at FC Nantes. In 2024, Sissoko returned to Watford and even scored against Newcastle’s fierce rivals Sunderland.
CAM – Siem de Jong
Siem de Jong had a horrific three years at Newcastle, playing just 22 times. The Dutchman struggled with injuries throughout his time on Tyneside, including a collapsed lung in February 2015 and a freak accident where one of his contact lenses was pushed into his eye.
de Jong was loaned to PSV for the 2016/17 campaign before rejoining Ajax. Spells at FC Cincinnati, Heerenveen and De Graafschap followed before he called time of his career in 2023.
ST – Papiss Cisse
Papiss Cisse will always be remembered for his sensational purple patch during the 2011/12 season which helped Newcastle qualify for the Europa League, not to forget that stunning goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Cisse left Newcastle in 2016 for Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng before joining Alanyaspor in 2018. His fine form earned him a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce before finishing his career at Ligue 2 side Amiens.
Cisse has teased a return to football after it was revealed he nearly signed for 10th-tier side Daisy Hill FC.