After 70 long years the wait is over for Newcastle.
The Saudi-backed club beat Liverpool 2-1 on Monday (AEST) to win the English League Cup and end an agonizing trophy drought.
Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored either side of halftime to seal victory at Wembley. And even though Liverpool substitute Federico Chiesa set up a tense finish to the final with a goal in added time, nothing was going to stand in Newcastle's way.
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"After 70 years we can now say we are the champions again," a tearful Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said. "It's one of the best days of my life."
Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Alexander Isak and staff of Newcastle United F.C. celebrate with the trophy after wining the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Alexander Isak and staff of Newcastle United F.C. celebrate with the trophy after wining the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) Getty
Newcastle United fans after their team won the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
Newcastle United fans after their team won the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. Getty
Newcastle's last major domestic trophy was the FA Cup in 1955. It won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.
This was its first piece of silverware since being bought by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund in 2021 - a deal that was expected to transform the fortunes of one of English soccer's most iconic clubs.
Burn's powerful header opened the scoring just before half-time and Isak doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with a sweeping shot from close range.
Chiesa raced through to pull a goal back in the fourth minute of added time, but Newcastle held on to spark raucous celebrations from its long-suffering fans.
While Liverpool is 12 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and looks on course to win a record-equalling 20th English title this season, coach Arne Slot was forced to wait for his first trophy since succeeding Jurgen Klopp last year.
The defeat ended a painful week for the Merseyside club, which was also knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday (AEST) after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout.
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Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks dejected during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks dejected after losing the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle United. Offside via Getty Images
'Even Liverpool can lose'
"It took us 7, 8, 9 months to lose twice in a row," Slot said. "You know that if you go far in tournaments that the opposition you face gets stronger and stronger. And even Liverpool can lose football games."
There have been near misses and painful lows during Newcastle's trophy wait, including back-to-back FA Cup final losses in 1998 and '99 and defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup final two years ago.
On this occasion Eddie Howe's team was a worthy winner against a Liverpool team that has been too good for its top flight rivals this season - losing just once in the league.
"You don't get many shots at a cup final. Today we had to try to take our opportunity and that's where the players delivered under pressure so well and so impressively," Howe said. "It also proves proves we can mix our game against the very, very best."
Newcastle players celebrate after winning the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England.
Newcastle players celebrate after winning the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. Getty
More trophies ahead?
Newcastle fans, whose joyous singing dominated Wembley, will hope this is the start of things to come under its new owners.
Despite being backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund which counts its assets at around $1.5 trillion (AUD), football's financial fair play restrictions have limited Newcastle's spending, meaning it has not been able to make the type of lavish signings seen by Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City and Qatari-backed PSG. Last summer it only spent around $57 million and recouped around $158 million in sales.
Burn and Isak were two of the big signings under the Saudi era and they delivered at Wembley.
"Hopefully with one (it) can become more," Howe said about winning more trophies in the future. "There's no guarantee, I just think it proves we can do it."
Newcastle United fans after winning the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Newcastle United fans are jubilant after winning the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Getty