Eddie Howe led Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory with a victory over Liverpool, as goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak helped the club end a 70-year wait for major silverware
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes was in tears at full-time after the club ended a 70-year trophy drought by beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
Eddie Howe’s side lost the 2023 final to Manchester United but made no mistake this time around. Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored either side of the half-time break and Liverpool couldn’t bring themselves level despite the best efforts of substitute Federico Chiesa.
Former Lyon midfielder Bruno was one of the first big-money signings to move to St James’ Park following their takeover in 2021. He has developed into a key figure for Howe’s team, and was part of a match-winning midfield trio at Wembley alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton.
The 27-year-old was the first to speak to Sky Sports after the victory, which brought Newcastle a first major domestic trophy since back in 1955. He dedicated the win to the supporters, many of whom had waited their entire lives for a moment like this.
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“It’s all for these fans,” Bruno said. “They deserve everything. When I first came here I said I wanted to put my name in history. We can now say we are the champions again. This is one of the best days of my life.
“I don’t have any words. It’s the best day of my life. For them [the fans] it’s like the World Cup. People have grown up and not seen us as champions. My first year as captain of this club and it’s one of the best days. This is unbelievable.
“This is my second home. We are making history. Some day when I leave this club I want the fans to sing my name the way they do to Shearer. He text me before the game. I’m so emotional today.”
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Newcastle beat Arsenal home and away to win their semi-final, but runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool provided a different kind of test. As a quiet first half drew on, it looked as though the first goal would be crucial, and new England call-up Burn did the business with a pinpoint header to turn Kieran Trippier’s corner beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.
Five minutes into the second half, Isak thought he’d doubled the lead only for Bruno to be ruled offside in the build-up. Just two minutes after that, though, it was 2-0 for good as the Swede swept the ball into Kelleher’s net.
It was still 2-0 when the board went up to show eight added minutes at the end of the regulation 90, and Chiesa’s goal – allowed after a VAR check found he was onside – made for a nervy finish. There was no Liverpool equaliser, though, and Newcastle’s long wait was finally over.
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