Arne Slot’s Liverpool had no answer to Eddie Howe and Newcastle United in the 2025 Carabao Cup final.
Dan Burn, the local hero, and Alexander Isak scored either side of half-time to give Newcastle a commanding 2-0 lead in London.
Federico Chiesa’s late goal gave the travelling Toon Army a scare, but Newcastle held their nerve to secure their first trophy in 70 years.
Eddie Howe’s tactics were spot on as Newcastle pressed high and went toe-to-toe with a Liverpool side that has dominated the Premier League this season.
The atmosphere at Wembley was electric, with Newcastle fans making their presence felt, and in the end, the Magpies were unlucky not to walk away with a bigger margin of victory.
Arne Slot Applauds Newcastle’s Game Plan Against Liverpool
Despite being the underdogs, Newcastle outplayed Liverpool at Wembley and were fully deserving of their win.
Jamie Carragher admitted he had been wrong in predicting a comfortable Liverpool victory, and manager Arne Slot took the defeat with grace.
After the match, Slot congratulated Newcastle’s players on the pitch, and in his post-match interview, he highlighted one key aspect of Howe’s strategy that worked brilliantly.
“We played the game the way they wanted it to go, and that’s a compliment to them,” Slot told Sky Sports. “We never found our rhythm, and they were aggressive, not letting us play out from the back.
When we did, they defended really well around their box. The game went their way.”
“They pressed high with a man-to-man strategy, and they have players who are strong and good in duels. Every header, every challenge, they went for it. It was a very good game plan, and a deserved win for Newcastle.”
Newcastle United’s Historic Trophy Win
After the disappointment of two years ago, Howe made changes to Newcastle’s approach. There was a growing sense of belief that this time things would be different – and they were.
Newcastle are now aiming to be “best in class” across all areas, and with the launch of ‘Project 2030’ by PIF earlier this month, the Magpies are set to become top contenders in the next five years.
One of the project’s key goals was to win a trophy – and that box has now been ticked after Sunday’s stunning performance.
However, Howe and PIF will be looking to add plenty more silverware to Newcastle’s cabinet in the years to come.
