Arne Slot and Liverpool were handed a painful defeat in the Carabao Cup final, losing 2-1 to Newcastle United at Wembley.
The Reds were hoping to retain the trophy after their hard-fought 1-0 extra-time victory over Chelsea the previous season.
But after a tough week that saw them eliminated from the Champions League by PSG, Slot’s side had the chance to make amends and secure his first silverware in charge. Unfortunately, they came up short.
Moreover, a hopeful treble and even a domestic quadruple dream were crushed. Meanwhile, Manchester City remain the only club to win the domestic quadruple in England.
A slow start for Slot and Liverpool
Liverpool’s performance was disappointing from the outset. The team lacked urgency and struggled to create any meaningful chances.
As per Opta Analyst, Liverpool managed just one shot in the entire first half, which was a stark contrast to Newcastle’s aggressive and composed play.
The Magpies, hungry to end their 70-year domestic cup drought, were far superior in every aspect of the game and went into the break deservedly ahead.
On the stroke of half-time, a poorly defended corner saw Dan Burn rise unchallenged and power a header past Caoimhin Kelleher, giving Newcastle a well-deserved lead.
Liverpool’s inability to track the towering Burn was a glaring mistake, one that would come back to haunt them.
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Newcastle’s dominance
Whatever Arne Slot said at the break clearly didn’t have the desired effect. Liverpool came out for the second half looking just as sluggish, and within minutes, Newcastle doubled their lead.
Alexander Isak had a goal ruled out for offside, but he was soon back on the scoresheet, capitalizing on Liverpool’s defensive disarray.
Liverpool made several changes, desperately attempting to spark a response. But their approach seemed chaotic, as Slot pushed forward multiple attackers in search of a late miracle.
The strategy did eventually pay off when Federico Chiesa scored in added time, giving Liverpool a glimmer of hope. However, it was far too late for the Reds to mount a serious comeback.
From the first whistle, it was clear which team was hungrier. Newcastle were sharper, more disciplined, and better prepared for the occasion.
Liverpool, by contrast, seemed to lack the mental edge required to fight back, even though their Premier League title was almost certain. On too many occasions under Slot, they’ve been second best on the big stage.
Liverpool’s struggles in the first half were evident in the statistics: they only managed one shot, while Newcastle had nine, three of which were on target. At full-time, Liverpool’s tally stood at seven shots, compared to Newcastle’s 17.
One of the critical issues came from set-pieces. Liverpool’s zonal marking system was found wanting as Newcastle repeatedly targeted the far post, where Burn had a free run.
Despite an early warning when Burn’s header was kept out by Kelleher, Liverpool failed to learn from their mistakes, and Burn made them pay just before the break.
Misguided tactics, substitutions and right-back woes
Arne Slot’s tactical decisions were questionable throughout the match. Darwin Núñez, often a lightning rod for criticism due to his unorthodox style and occasional wastefulness, was once again ineffective.
Diogo Jota, playing as the focal point in attack, failed to make an impact, even clearing Liverpool’s best chance away from the goal. As the game wore on, Slot’s desperation became evident. He brought on Núñez and made several other attacking changes in a bid to turn things around.
However, these decisions lacked cohesion and only seemed to add to the sense of panic. In an attempt to shift the game, Liverpool threw on Cody Gakpo, Chiesa, and Harvey Elliott in a last-ditch effort. But their collective impact came too late, and the match was already slipping away.
One of Liverpool’s key issues was their right-back crisis. With both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley sidelined, Slot had no choice but to play Jarell Quansah out of position.
Although Anthony Gordon’s suspension worked in Liverpool’s favor, Quansah was still put to the test against a tricky opponent in Harvey Barnes.
While Quansah’s early heavy tackle on Tino Livramento went unpunished, it set the tone for the rest of the game, as Liverpool struggled to build any real attacking momentum down the right flank.
Also read:Liverpool reportedly target La Liga star forward if Diogo Jota leaves.
Sai Akshay
I'm a football enthusiast and an avid writer and someone who lives by the Bill Shankly quote, on a day to day basis.