Newcastle United face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on March 16th, in what will be the Magpies’ second trip to Wembley since the takeover.
Eddie Howe guided Newcastle United to the 2023 Carabao Cup. Sadly, his side lost 2-0 to Manchester United.
Now Newcastle United are set to return, and will face Liverpool at Wembley on March 16th. It is the club’s second cup final in three seasons, highlighting the Newcastle United owners’ ambition since buying out Mike Ashley.
Newcastle want to end their trophy drought, and their latest opportunity to do so will be against the Reds.
Interestingly, the Magpies probably would not be in the position they are today had it not been for a fixture against their 2025 Carabao Cup final opponents.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
The Newcastle United vs Liverpool game that sparked PIF’s takeover
On October 1st 2017, Newcastle United entertained Liverpool at St James’ Park. It was Rafa Benitez versus Jurgen Klopp, as a Liverpool legend went head-to-head with a man trying to build his own legacy on Merseyside.
But it was Benitez who was the happier manager that day, as his Newcastle side battled valiantly to draw 1-1. Liverpool had most of the ball, but could only return to the North West with a point.
Philippe Coutinho’s screamer was cancelled out by Joselu, as Newcastle grabbed a deserved point.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
The St James’ Park crowd were happy with what they saw from their players, while there was a very interesting person in attendance.
This was the first Newcastle United game that Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi went to watch. It turned out to be a match that changed the history of the club, as it was the moment that sparked Staveley’s interest in buying out Mike Ashley.
After trying and failing to buy the club on her own back, Staveley drafted in the riches of PIF. As every Toon fan knows, the takeover saga was long and drawn out, but it ended with Ashley leaving the club on October 7th 2021.
Newcastle United were sold for £305million, as Staveley finally got her wish.
What Amanda Staveley said about her first visit to St James’ Park
Now Newcastle could end their incredible trophy drought against the team that helped change the Magpies’ ambitions.
Under Mike Ashley, Newcastle were never going to win a trophy. The desire was to merely stay in the Premier League.
But PIF want silverware, and their next opportunity to get it is March 16th against Liverpool. That feels fitting given it was Newcastle vs Liverpool that inspired Staveley to launch a takeover attempt.
Following her Newcastle United departure last year, Staveley spoke to the Athletic about that day at St James’ Park.
“I remember walking up to St James’ and it was just immediate,” she said.
“I started to get goosebumps. It was the vibrancy, seeing the town. The people were so warm and friendly and you just felt like you were at home. There was a crazy feeling of, ‘Wow, this place is special’.
“I’ve joked about this to John (Henry) and Tom (Werner, the Liverpool owners), we kind of went there to p— them off because we had been trying to buy Liverpool and we couldn’t get it!
“But when we arrived there was just an immediate feeling of so much potential. I loved the stadium, this big cathedral on the hill, and it was so full and so passionate. It needed love and investment, but you could feel the excitement. I just thought, ‘There’s so much you could do’.”
While Staveley has now left the club, her importance at Newcastle United will never be forgotten – especially if the Magpies win the Carabao Cup on March 16th.