Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side made history at Wembley with a remarkable performance that stunned the Premier League leaders.
Dan Burn put Newcastle in front late in the first half, and Alexander Isak’s 27th goal of the season extended their lead after the break. Federico Chiesa pulled one back in the dying moments, but Newcastle held firm to secure their first major trophy since winning the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
That triumph, in what was the predecessor to the Europa League, belongs to a distant era, but this long-awaited victory will be cherished by Newcastle fans, who turned one side of Wembley into a sea of black and white in celebration. It also marked the club’s first domestic silverware in 70 years, dating back to their 1955 FA Cup triumph.
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Since Newcastle’s last European success, 30 different English clubs had lifted trophies, while Liverpool alone had claimed 38 major honors. However, after falling short in the 2023 League Cup final against Manchester United, Howe’s men returned to Wembley and finally ended their trophy drought.
Over the years, Newcastle had suffered five relegations to the second tier, with club legends such as Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne, and Malcolm MacDonald unable to bring silverware to Tyneside. Apart from Kevin Keegan’s “Entertainers” era in the 1990s, when they briefly challenged for the league title, the club endured long periods of disappointment and mismanagement, often becoming a source of ridicule.
Everything changed in 2021 when a Saudi-backed consortium took over from the widely criticized owner Mike Ashley and appointed Howe as manager. With Howe’s tactical expertise and significant financial backing, Newcastle transformed from relegation strugglers into trophy winners.
Meanwhile, the defeat added to Liverpool’s woes, coming just days after their Champions League last-16 exit on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain. However, despite missing out on a first trophy under manager Arne Slot, Liverpool remain 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League and are within reach of a record-equalling 20th English league title.
