Newcastle United brought their trophy drought to an end on Sunday, securing a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley. Their last major success came 56 years ago in the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, while their most recent domestic triumph dates back even further to the 1955 FA Cup.
With Liverpool sitting 23 points ahead in the Premier League, few anticipated an upset, yet Eddie Howe’s men executed their game plan to perfection. This analysis breaks down six crucial aspects that determined the outcome against Arne Slot’s side at Wembley.
Table of Contents
Midfield Masterclass: Newcastle’s Engine Room Overpowers Liverpool
In the build-up, this final was expected to showcase two of the Premier League’s finest midfields going head-to-head. However, on the day, only one truly delivered.
Joelinton was a force of nature, winning more duels (nine) than Liverpool’s entire midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister combined (eight). Bruno Guimarães matched that tally, further highlighting Newcastle’s dominance in central areas.
From the first whistle, Joelinton set the tone with his intensity and aggression, spearheading Newcastle’s pressing game and lifting both his teammates and the fans. He wasn’t just a midfield enforcer but also an emotional catalyst, rallying the Toon Army with every crunching tackle and crucial block.
Guimarães complemented him perfectly, reclaiming possession nine times—more than any other player on the pitch—while Sandro Tonali added composure and tactical intelligence, providing the balance Newcastle needed.
Together, they suffocated Liverpool, pressing relentlessly and denying Arne Slot’s side any rhythm. The stats told the story: Gravenberch completed just 81% of his passes—his sixth-lowest rate this season—while Mac Allister wasn’t much better at 84.9%, his eighth-lowest in a starting appearance.
Newcastle’s midfield didn’t just win the battle—they completely controlled it.
Dan Burn’s Aerial Dominance: A Mismatch Liverpool Failed to Fix
“I’ve had worse weeks,” Dan Burn told Sky Sports with a grin. “I don’t want to go to sleep because I feel like I’m dreaming and it’s all going to be a lie.”
No need to pinch yourself, Dan—this was very real.
It was an unforgettable few days for the Blyth-born defender. Just 48 hours after earning his first England call-up, Burn powered home Newcastle’s opener at Wembley, later collecting both a winners’ medal and the man-of-the-match award.
Commanding at both ends, Burn dominated in the air, winning six of his seven aerial duels—at least two more than anyone else on the pitch. His most decisive contribution came in attack, a towering header from just inside the box that gave Newcastle the lead.
This wasn’t just a case of brute force; it was the result of meticulous planning. Eddie Howe revealed post-match: “We were working on those corners tirelessly for two weeks. He’s delivered one from long range. Incredible header.”
What was surprising wasn’t Burn winning a header—it was Liverpool’s response. Rather than assigning a taller defender, they stuck with a zonal system that often left the 6-foot-7 Burn matched up against the much shorter Alexis Mac Allister. Burn exploited the mismatch repeatedly, with Liverpool failing to adjust.
Arne Slot defended his team’s approach: “We have five players zonally close to our goal. If the ball comes there, we have our five strongest players to attack it. Normally, I’ve never seen a player from that far away head a ball with such force into the far corner. Ninety-nine out of 100 times, that won’t lead to a goal.”
But Liverpool had plenty of warnings. Burn’s goal came from Newcastle’s sixth corner. Twice before, he had already beaten Mac Allister in the air, with Bruno Guimarães getting on the end of both knockdowns but failing to convert.
The sixth time, Newcastle finally made them pay. Should Liverpool have adapted sooner? Absolutely.
Silencing Salah: Newcastle’s Defensive Masterclass
Mohamed Salah endured an uncharacteristically ineffective performance at Wembley, struggling to influence the game as Newcastle’s defense shut him down.
The Egyptian had just 23 touches of the ball, with only one inside Newcastle’s penalty area—and even that was near the byline, posing little to no threat. He failed to register a single shot or create a chance, a rarity in his Liverpool career. This marked only the third time since October 2020 that he started a match for the Reds without contributing to a shot, following similar struggles against Arsenal (League Cup, 61 minutes played) and Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League last-16 first leg, 86 minutes). More significantly, it was the first time ever he played a full 90 minutes for Liverpool without being directly involved in a shot.
Salah has been in phenomenal form this season, on course for one of the most productive individual campaigns in Premier League history. However, his goal-scoring woes in finals continued—his only goal in 10 club and international finals remains a penalty in the 2019 Champions League final, meaning he has never scored from open play in a final.
Newcastle’s defensive game plan was executed to perfection, consistently cutting off Salah’s routes towards goal and forcing him inside or backward. A key figure in this effort was Tino Livramento, who not only made an impact in attack but also played a crucial role in neutralizing Salah. Few teams have managed to keep Liverpool’s talisman this quiet all season, making Newcastle’s defensive display all the more impressive.
Full-Back Brilliance: Trippier and Livramento Deliver on the Big Stage
Newcastle’s full-backs played a key role in their victory, with both Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento delivering standout performances. Their contrasting roles provided the perfect balance, helping Newcastle control the game.
Trippier, typically known for his attacking influence, was deployed deeper on the right side of defense. Eddie Howe sacrificed some of his forward play to allow Livramento more freedom on the left. Despite this, Trippier still led Newcastle in touches (61) and passes—both overall (33) and completed (23). However, he had just eight successful passes in the attacking half, significantly lower than his Premier League average of 29 per 90 minutes in 2024-25.
Yet, his influence remained crucial. His pinpoint corner assisted Dan Burn’s opening goal, reinforcing his reputation as a set-piece specialist. At 34 years and 178 days, he was the oldest player on the pitch but showed he can still compete at the highest level.
On the left, Livramento showcased why new England manager Thomas Tuchel sees him as a key option. Playing as Newcastle’s furthest forward defender, he combined effectively with Harvey Barnes to trouble Liverpool’s emergency right-back, Jarell Quansah. Their link-up play led to Livramento’s cross, which resulted in Alexander Isak’s goal.
Livramento was also essential in Newcastle’s ball progression. He carried the ball 144 metres upfield—more than twice as far as any other Newcastle player (Jacob Murphy – 71.6m). Only twice this season has he recorded a greater total for Newcastle in a competitive match.
Neutralizing Liverpool’s Direct Passes
Liverpool may not be a typical long-ball team, but long, raking passes are a crucial part of their game. These balls, often aimed into space for Mohamed Salah or other runners, demand perfect coordination between the opposition’s defensive line and goalkeeper.
Newcastle’s Nick Pope isn’t naturally a sweeper-keeper, and under Eddie Howe, the team rarely relies on one. However, at Wembley, Pope adapted to Liverpool’s approach by stepping out of his comfort zone. He charged off his line more than usual, successfully sweeping up behind his defense three times. This was the second-most by a Newcastle goalkeeper in a single match since August 2023 and the fourth-highest tally of Pope’s top-flight career. Despite Newcastle’s generally deep defensive setup, Pope had eight touches outside his penalty area, showcasing his proactive approach.
Liverpool’s effectiveness in long passes was also hampered by the absence of their best long-ball distributor, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Without him, the remaining defenders struggled to replicate his accuracy. Many of their long passes were under-hit, forcing their forwards into aerial duels rather than controlled runs in behind.
Newcastle dominated in the air, winning 68% of the game’s aerial duels. As a result, Liverpool completed only 33% of their long passes—well below their season’s Premier League average of 47%. This drop in efficiency significantly limited Arne Slot’s side, as Newcastle successfully disrupted one of Liverpool’s key attacking strategies.
Isak’s Impact: A Striker Who Delivers on the Big Stage
Having a striker like Alexander Isak made all the difference. There aren’t many better ways to mark your 100th appearance for a club than by scoring the match-winning goal in a historic victory—Newcastle’s first major domestic trophy in 70 years.
Isak’s decisive strike was his 58th for the club, making him one of the most prolific scorers in the Premier League since his Newcastle debut. Only Erling Haaland (113) and Mohamed Salah (84) have netted more in that period.
The Swedish forward has been clinical this season. Among Premier League players with at least 10 goals in all competitions, only Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood (31.6%) boasts a higher conversion rate than Isak’s 27.4%. The same applies to non-penalty goals, where Wood (27.8%) edges out Isak’s 24.7%—both proving to be lethal finishers.
With 23 goals this season, Isak is just two shy of matching his tally from last term (25). In Newcastle’s Premier League era, only two other players have managed 20+ goals in consecutive campaigns—Les Ferdinand (1995-96: 29 goals, 1996-97: 21 goals) and club legend Alan Shearer, who achieved the feat five times between 1998-99 and 2003-04.
Beyond his goal, Isak played a vital tactical role. Similar to Ousmane Dembélé’s performance in PSG’s recent Champions League win at Anfield, Isak frequently dropped deep to disrupt Liverpool’s defensive shape. Despite having just 19 touches—the joint-lowest among Newcastle’s starting XI—his movement created space for teammates in the final third, making him a constant problem for Liverpool’s backline.
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FAQs
How did Newcastle neutralize Mohamed Salah?
Tino Livramento shut him down, limiting him to 23 touches and zero shots or chances created.
What role did Newcastle’s full-backs play?
Trippier stayed deep, while Livramento’s attacking runs helped set up Isak’s goal.
How did Newcastle counter Liverpool’s long balls?
They won 68% of aerial duels, while Liverpool’s long-ball accuracy dropped to 33%.
Why was Alexander Isak’s goal significant?
It was his 58th for Newcastle, making him the third-highest Premier League scorer since his debut.
How historic was Newcastle’s victory?
It secured their first major domestic trophy in 70 years.
