Liverpool are enduring a tough period, having been eliminated from the Champions League and falling short in the Carabao Cup final within a week. With only the Premier League left to fight for.. and nearly secured—the Reds looked to bounce back from their midweek exit against PSG. However, their performance at Wembley lacked energy and inspiration. Despite the disappointing display, Reds legend Robbie Fowler believes one player stood out with a commendable effort.
Newcastle fully deserved their victory on a day when Liverpool never looked like securing a win. The Magpies boast talented players capable of defeating any side, but Liverpool’s lack of desire and work rate in a cup final was simply unacceptable. Many Liverpool players delivered underwhelming performances, appearing fatigued (talking very specifically about Gakpo here) even in the early stages of the match.
Virgil van Dijk stands alone as Liverpool’s bright spot in Carabao Cup final
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Liverpool players, especially Salah, Jota, and Mac Allister, lacked a winner’s mentality at Wembley. Across the pitch, too many Reds failed to perform their roles effectively. Newcastle players outmatched them in every department, making victory impossible. However, Fowler highlighted Virgil van Dijk as the one player who stepped up and delivered a strong performance as captain.
The Former coach and player made sure to give the captain his due credit, speaking to [LFCTV](https://video.liverpoolfc.com/video/3542412f-1482-4e99-adc4-245d127aeac9) after the game
> “The result is disappointing but I think it’s the performance which has probably ruined this a little bit,”
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> “I’m not sure any player other than probably Virgil van Dijk can hold their head up.
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> “It was a performance lacking in a little bit of everything, a little bit of grit, desire, that control of football in certain areas of the pitch.”
Among Liverpool’s starters, Van Dijk was likely the only player who earned any credit. However, even he was not at his absolute best. While he largely kept Alexander Isak in check, he failed to react quickly enough to prevent the Swedish striker from scoring the winning goal. Given the high standards he sets for himself, Fowler’s praise might offer little consolation to the Liverpool captain.
If anyone else could hold their head high, it would be Chiesa and Elliott. Chiesa, in particular, deserves an apology from Slot. The Italian came off the bench to score a well-taken goal and looked more dangerous than any other Liverpool player. With nine Premier League games remaining, he should be given more opportunities to make an impact.
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While disappointment over the result is natural, the real concern lies in the lacklustre performance. The remark about Virgil van Dijk being the only player who can hold his head up highlights just how underwhelming the team was as a collective.
A match of this magnitude demands grit, desire, and control, three qualities Liverpool seemingly lacked. Against a well-drilled Newcastle side, failing to impose themselves physically or tactically proved costly. For a team with Liverpool’s standards, this kind of flat display raises questions about mentality, decision-making, and whether certain players are stepping up when it matters most.