This time last week many of us were preparing to head down to London for the weekend, as Eddie Howe’s Mags prepared to tackle Arne Slot’s Reds for the Carabao Cup trophy.
Since then and Sunday’s 2-1 win, we’ve spent days on end re-watching the game and consuming every bit of Newcastle content we can, while pundits and former players have had plenty to say as they look back on last weekend’s brilliant performance.
Dan Burn was the first half hero and Alexander Isak’s strike to make it 2-0 proved all important, but Alan Shearer spoke passionately about one man in particular in a recent podcast appearance.
Fans, players, and pundits were all in agreement on the Monday morning after the game: what a performance from Joelinton.
Against the in-form trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominic Szoboszlai, Joelinton was imperious as ever: the highlight of his game being a dramatic sprint to chase down Jarrell Quansah and recover the ball in Newcastle’s half.
Alan Shearer lavished praise on the Brazilian on a special edition of The Rest is Football podcast, saying: “I mean, Joelinton. Oh my god. Wow.Beast of a performance. He is horrible to play against, isn’t he? You can imagine.
“He was everywhere. And I think that was always going to be key, that midfield battle. It was always going to be ‘who was going to come out on top?’ in that three.”
“And I thought Newcastle dominated the midfield, and that set them up perfectly.”
💯 Joelinton giving everything for the @NUFC shirt 🖤🤍#EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/iqQRPhWktc
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) March 19, 2025
A man mountain in size, stature and heart, big Joe was at his brilliant best last weekend.
Watching the game back, I noted not just his huge recovery challenge to stop Quansah down Liverpool’s right, but two absolutely vital interceptions in his own box to cut out dangerous Liverpool attacks.
Not only was he vital to our defensive effort and key to setting the tempo physically, I thought his first touch and use of the ball was superb.
He regularly brought it down with ease in tight spaces and moved it one quickly, proving that he is not only a wrecking ball and superb athlete, but capable technically with the ball at his feet.
What a man, what a player, what a turnaround. One of the great Newcastle United stories.