Newcastle United beat Liverpool when it mattered most this season.
Before the Carabao Cup final in March, Newcastle United had not beaten Liverpool since December 2015.
But that changed earlier this year, with Eddie Howe’s side beating the Reds 2-1 at Wembley as Newcastle won the Carabao Cup.
That moment changed the course of history for the Magpies, and the hope is that it is just the beginning under PIF’s ownership.
Newcastle United could now follow up trophy success by qualifying for the Champions League. In fact, they could even finish second in the Premier League below Liverpool.
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Jamie Carragher picks Newcastle United ahead of Liverpool
That would be a remarkable achievement to cap off a remarkable season.
In the eyes of Jamie Carragher, it even makes Newcastle United the team of the season ahead of his beloved Liverpool.
Speaking on the latest episode of the It’s Called Soccer podcast on the Overlap US YouTube channel, Carragher was asked to name his Premier League team of the season.
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“I think it could be Newcastle,” he said.
“They could end up being second or third. If you had said to me at the start of the season that Newcastle are going to finish third and win a trophy I would be like ‘wow’. How can Newcastle get third, when you think of the other teams in the Premier League.
“Don’t forget in the summer they had huge issues around buying and selling, PSR issues. They were almost swapping players rather than going out and making big signings.
“The fact they won a trophy, I’ll go Newcastle.”
Eddie Howe in contention for manager of the season
It is quite staggering to hear Carragher, a player who spent his entire career at Liverpool, pick Newcastle United as the team of the season ahead of the Premier League champions.
That is a testament to what Eddie Howe has achieved at St James’ Park.
It is an achievement that should put him in contention to win the manager of the season award.
That is the view of Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer. During a recent appearance on the Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer backed Howe to win manager of the season.
“If Newcastle finish second and win the Carabao Cup, does that not make Eddie Howe manager of the season?” Shearer asked.
Gary Lineker replied: “Tradition says that the man who wins the Premier League usually gets it, but you make a good point.”
It would be a major surprise if Howe was named Premier League manager of the season ahead of Arne Slot.
In his first season in charge of Liverpool, the Dutchman has guided his team to the Premier League title with ease. It is even more impressive when you remember he replaced an iconic manager in Jurgen Klopp before making just one signing.
Since the award was introduced, there have only been five managers to win it that had not won the Premier League title. One of those managers was Alan Pardew after guiding Newcastle United to fifth in the 2011/12 season.