A look at how the national media reacted to Liverpool's Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday
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Updated 10:17, 17 Mar 2025
Arne Slot walks with Virgil van Dijk at the end of the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025
(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Liverpool's hopes of an 11th League Cup disintegrated at Wembley on Sunday afternoon as Newcastle United won 2-1 to secure their first domestic trophy for 70 years. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak gave the Magpies a two-goal cushion before Federico Chiesa set up a nervy final few moments after scoring in the fourth of eight additional minutes.
On what was a poor day at the office for the Reds, the ECHO was at Wembley to provide its usual match-day mix of analysis, player ratings, big-match verdict and live blog. The reactions of Arne Slot and Eddie Howe were also covered at length in their post-match press conferences.
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Our colleagues from the national media were also on hand to give their own considered takes and here's what they all made of it on what was a famous day for Newcastle and one to quickly forget for Slot and his players.
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The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe writes: "Finals expose flaws. The shock for Liverpool is they may not have realised how many they have to fix until witnessing their most insipid cup final appearance in memory.
"There have been occasions when they knowingly carried a passenger into a showpiece game and paid the price, the zones of improvement obvious after goalkeeping mishaps (Champions League 2018) or individual defensive calamities (Europa League 2016).
"When assessing the debris of a horrible Wembley afternoon for the club, Fenway Sports Group’s chief executive, Michael Edwards, his sporting director Richard Hughes and manager Arne Slot must conclude a less obvious one has come to the fore during the European exit and Carabao Cup final humbling.
"The team which has scored over 100 goals this season is suddenly looking in need of a creative workshop and a summer in finishing school. This was Liverpool as the ultimate contradiction, possessing one of the most lethal goalscorers in the world but – for 95 minutes – reducing Newcastle United’s Nick Pope to the role of spectator to such an extent he could have watched alongside Ant and Dec."
Paul Joyce, of The Times, muses: "Liverpool had never previously lost back-to-back matches under Slot but, from a long way out, he would have seen this one coming. An overhaul of the attack was already looming this summer before this setback, but exactly how extensive that will be remains to be seen. The midfield might need strengthening, too.
"Immediately after the break, Liverpool finally managed to put together a move of note. Van Dijk’s pass through the lines sent Diogo Jota into the box and he cut the ball back for Luis Diaz. Joelinton made the tackle and celebrated as he had done in the first half when making a lung-bursting run to thwart Jarell Quansah’s surge. Those sorts of duels went Newcastle’s way throughout.
"Mohamed Salah both failed to record a shot or create a chance for Liverpool in a game in which he has started for only the third time in eight years. Two of those have come in the past fortnight, with the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain the other occasion when he was cast on to the periphery.
"New ground was being broken by Howe’s team. For the first time since that May day in 1955 when Jackie Milburn had set the tone, they led in a showpiece game - notwithstanding the Fairs Cup Final in 1969 when they defeated Ujpest Dozsa of Hungary 6-2 on aggregate.
"Would the might of what they had in their hands now tell? Not for a second did it feel that way and when, in the 52nd minute, they planted their flag on this afternoon it told the story of the contest."
The Daily Mirror's chief sports writer, Andy Dunn, reflects: "Newcastle’s midfield made Liverpool’s midfield look ponderous. And there must surely have been psychological factors involved, the dramatic nature of their Champions League exit creating an inevitable sense of deflation.
"Plus, with the Premier League title as good as sealed, perhaps one or two, subconsciously, feel their hard work is done. And to a certain extent, of course, it is.
"The pain of this loss was immediate but there can be no diluting Liverpool’s Premier League achievement. And when the season is over, they will be able to reflect on it with pride. But you have to wonder if there will be any ramifications from this one day.
"It did not help Salah’s Ballon d’Or cause, that is for sure. These last few days have not helped Salah’s Ballon d’Or cause. In fact, it is probably not even a thing any more.
"It would be too easy - and unfair - to highlight Salah’s lack of impact in this final because he was just one of a bad bunch. But it was a nudge to those pundits who say Liverpool should give Salah whatever he is asking for. It was a reminder that he turns 33 in three months' time."
Over on The Guardian's pages, Barney Ronay trains the focus on Dan Burn and his opening goal, writing: "Sometimes football just can’t help itself. Even now, in its glazed and managed state, plaything of propaganda machines and sharp-fanged hedge funds, it will still give you these moments, will follow its own gorgeously hammy storylines.
"Here it gave Newcastle a story that couldn’t have been more perfectly styled and finished: a Dan Burn day for a Dan Burn team at a Dan Burn Wembley, and a moment before half‑time that seemed to paint the entire world a deep rich shade of Dan Burn.
"The first half had been a grudging thing. Newcastle seemed to be the only team with any interest in actually making any football happen. As half‑time loomed, Kieran Trippier took a corner from the right. Somehow the Liverpool defence failed to register the vast, ambling figure inside the penalty area, with its distinctive, undulating way of moving, like a friendly CGI diplodocus in a Disney movie."
And in the ECHO's own verdict: "Arne Slot had denied it and Virgil van Dijk bristled at the mere suggestion. But with Champions League heartache in the rearview and the likelihood of a Premier League triumph still to come, this, it seems, simply mattered more to Newcastle United.
"It would be hugely unfair to be too critical of the overall efforts in a campaign that sees Liverpool now at the March international break with a 12-point advantage over Arsenal at the summit, but Slot must use these past few days, in whatever way he can, as an exercise in learning.
"It's been the worst week of the Dutchman's short reign so far on Merseyside but the damage, however much it will hurt for the coming week or so, remains largely cosmetic. A second league title in five years is still the overriding aim and while it is the only peak left to scale now, it is the one with the most incredible view. Sixteen points from an available 27 will seal it.
"The major question for the Magpies was how they would react to the 70-year domestic trophy drought that no doubt hung heavy the build-up in the North East. Would they be engulfed by history? Or could they be emboldened by it?
"After a nervous 35 minutes or so against a team who remain the country's best this season, Newcastle found their answer and began to expose the shortcomings of an exhausted Liverpool for whom the international break cannot come fast enough."