The ecstasy remains in Tyneside and it will for some time. Supporters continue to re-watch clips of the final as the dreams of the fan-base were realised by a now-legendary group of players. One player that has received his fair share of praise has been Kieron Trippier.
The last 12 months have been tough for the former England international, as he has lost his place to Tino Livramento. His form has dropped off and there is no doubt that his age is catching up with his ability to play twice a week.
However, he remains an excellent right-back and he has shown that during our Carabao Cup win. Here, we look at his key actions in a superb display at Wembley.
Trippier was key to the second leg victory over Arsenal to help us reach the final and he was excellent once again on Sunday. In the early stages, it was his aggression out of possession that set the tone for the team.
In the first 20 minutes, he won the ball back on five occasions. Trippier was willing to face up to Luis Diaz and look to win the ball high up the pitch, rather than drop back. That was the aggressive style the team needed on Sunday and one of their experienced men led the way. Arne Slot likely thought the battle on that side of the pitch could be a fruitful one for his team, but it was the Newcastle man who came out on top.
Every action was thought out and precise, with nothing left to chance. In the middle part of the first half, there was some pressure on us, as Liverpool started to get on the ball more. Within a five-minute period, Trippier made three headers back to Pope when under pressure. The simple thing would have been to clear it out of play, but the right-back’s experience allowed us to regain possession.
It was a reminder of Trippier’s ability and how he can be a leader in the back four. He made two fouls in the game, both of which broke up dangerous Liverpool attacks and these were important contributions to the management of the game. Throughout the game, he barked out orders and ensured standards were maintained. It was fitting that he was one of the three players to lift the trophy, as he played a key leadership role on the pitch.
The eye-catching moment from the first half came at the end of the first half, as it was Trippier’s lofted ball that was headed in by Dan Burn. It will go down in history and regularly be replayed. Set pieces were a threat all game and Eddie Howe spoke about the preparation that went into them. Trippier remains the club’s most reliable taker and he showed that on Sunday.
This summer, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Trippier leave the club. It has been rumoured in previous windows and the player may want regular starts as he enters the final years of his career.
However, it was great to see him on the pitch when the club finally won their first trophy in generations. He deserved this moment and he rolled back the years with a superb display.
The defender was one of the first to join the project and he has had a huge impact. Kieran Trippier will go down as a club legend.