At Wembley Stadium on Sunday March 16th of 2025 Newcastle United carried home victory with a 2-1 win against Liverpool for their first major domestic title in 55 years. The victory marked the end of a the 55-year dry spell during which Newcastle United had been waiting to win their first trophy since 1955 FA Cup triumph and established a pivotal chapter in Eddie Howe’s successful Newcastle team.
Liverpool experienced a painful defeat in the 2024-25 League Cup final which marked the first time they lost in an otherwise flawless season despite earning the previous championship title. Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored goals to give Newcastle their victory while Federico Chiesa answered for Liverpool but their late effort disappeared as the Wembley sun set.
Pre-Match Build-Up
Setting the Scene
All conditions existed to create a spectacular match between the two opposing teams. The English Premier League leaders Liverpool entered the match as decisive champions with an 15-clear point first-place position and a dominant match history against Newcastle United. The Magpies faced two significant losses to Liverpool during the 2024 season beginning with a 2-0 defeat at Anfield in February and the thrilling draw at St. James’ Park in December. Liverpool manager Slot dealt with the setback of a midweek Champions League elimination through penalties to PSG while continuing his search for his inaugural trophy as Reds manager.
Newcastle’s Hunger
The Copa del Rey final dawned as Newcastle’s underdog entry point though they walked with intense determination. The ninth position in the Premier League kept Eddie Howe’s team at a three-point distance from securing a place in the top four as they advanced to Wembley. Although key starters Anthony Gordon was suspended and Lewis Hall along with Sven Botman were injured it allowed Dan Burn’s return and Alexander Isak’s exceptional form strengthened their potential. This contest meant much more to Newcastle supporters because it provided them with an opportunity to put an end to their 70-year trophy drought. Check-in at Wembley Stadium began at 4:30 PM GMT while the Wembley arch illuminated the stadium which attracted 90,000 enthusiastic supporters.
First Half: Newcastle Strike First
Early Exchanges
Newcastle Town began their approach immediately after the starting whistle blew. Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff guided the midfield tempo hence Jacob Murphy became a constant threat to Liverpool’s defensive line. Caoimhin Kelleher started as goalkeeper to honor the Reds’ Cup traditions while Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate formed a defense partnership with Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson beside them. Salah and Diaz alongside Jota began attacking Newcastle from their sexton position as the Magpies had several key defenders out through injury.
Burn Breaks the Deadlock
The match started as a tactical chess battle during the opening half. During the first half Liverpool maintained possession dominance at 58% while The Magpies applied constant pressure on their build-up that limited their natural flow. Nick Pope blocked a curling Salah shot in the 12th minute and Kelleher made a strong save when Isak tried to shoot.
The game reached its first pivotal moment during the period before the interval. Valentino Livramento delivered a precise and measured set-piece cross which Dan Burn rose above Quansah to head powerfully beyond Kelleher in the 45th minute. The entire Wembley Stadium exploded when Newcastle Unders scored their first goal of 1-0 from their dominant first-half performance. Liverpool’s attacking plays remained weak since Jota’s header missed its target and Diaz ran into no opening.
During the second half Isak scored his second goal to extend the lead before Chiesa produced last-minute thrilling moments.
Newcastle Extend Their Advantage
The Magpies entered the second half with fresh energy which resulted in a second-minute score from Isak to put Newcastle in front 2-0. A through pass from Fabian Schar reached Jacob Murphy who headed to Alexander Isak who scored with a polished finish beyond Kelleher making it 2-0 for Newcastle United. An impressive 15th goal of his season from Isak produced a historic moment which both stunned Liverpool supporters while bringing happiness to Newcastle fans. The tactical strategy developed by Howe centered on resisting defense pressure but actively attacking counterattacks to achieve success on the field.
Liverpool’s Late Rally
Slot made his moves quickly by replacing Jota and Diaz with Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo during the 60th minute. Liverpool players received a new lease of life through substitutions when Chiesa used direct running to cause problems for Livramento. Salah broke free through defending pressure which forced Pope to make a diving stop during minute 68 and Van Dijk missed a close header during a corner kick opportunity.
Newcastle, however, stood firm. The defensive partnership between Burn and Schar combined with Guimaraes’ non-stop midfield activity prevented Liverpool from sustaining meaningful attacks. The 92nd minute Salah cross caused a Schar deflection that resulted in Chiesa scoring the first goal for Liverpool through a VAR-confirmed goal. The five added minutes allowed Newcastle defence to maintain their stronghold despite Liverpoo’s repeated shot attempts as Longstaff cleared the Van Dijk header at the final opportunity.
Key Performances
Newcastle Standouts
- The defensive giant Dan Burn scored the first goal of the game while earning an 8 rating. Through his powerful header he initiated the scoring before he provided defensive stability to shut down Jota.
- Alexander Isak (9/10): Man of the Match. The striker enhanced Newcastle’s advantage by his productive finish followed by expansive offensive movements that disturbed Liverpool’s defensive system throughout the match.
- Bruno Guimaraes delivered 8/10 performance through his defensive cutting abilities and precise forward movements in midfield.
Liverpool Highlights
- The substitute appearance from Federico Chiesa earned him seven out of ten points as he scored the late goal then had a chance to push the match into extra time.
- Salah performed at a 6/10 level because Pope along with Newcastle’s defenders kept him from scoring goals during the match.
- Caoimhin Kelleher maintained his reliability score of 6/10 while failing to defend either scoring attempt.
Tactical Analysis
Newcastle’s Masterclass
The team under Eddie Howe delivered an excellent demonstration of how to handle a match. Murphy and Joelinton shifted backward into defensive positions during possessions to stop Liverpool’s full-backs while Newcastle transformed from their 4-3-3 to a 4-5-1 defensive structure. Set-piece opportunities allowed Burn to score and fast-paced attacks by Isak paid off because Liverpool had their defensive line too high. The young full-back Livramento made an astute decision by electing to start instead of Emil Krafth which successfully resulted in a vital cross that led to Newcastle’s opening goal.
Liverpool’s Struggles
Slot’s Liverpool struggled to adapt. The pressing defense of Newcastle closed upon Liverpool’s players while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence combined to thwart their normal attacking combinations. During the match Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones together lost control of the game after Guimaraes seized the initiative. The late surge the Reds produced after Slot introduced substitutions proved ineffective because Liverpool continued to miss scoring opportunities despite their 14 shots with only four hitting the target.
Statistical Breakdown
| Statistic | Liverpool | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 6 |
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Corners | 5 | 3 |
| Fouls | 12 | 8 |
| Pass Accuracy | 86% | 79% |
The two goals from Newcastle’s six shot attempts outperformed Liverpool’s control over most of the match that brought no significant score despite their higher possession numbers. The Magpies established their physical dominance through aerial duels where they successfully won 60% of all aerial battles.
Post-Match Reaction
Managers Speak
Eddie Howe described this triumph as “a monumental day” for Newcastle which he credited to his players’ “heart and soul.” “This is for the fans who’ve waited so long,” he expressed while marking his position as the first English manager to win a domestic cup since Harry Redknapp in 2008. Following defeat Arne Slot acknowledged that Newcastle earned their win through a deserved result. He gave credit to Newcastle while acknowledging Liverpool’s lack of top form. He promised that his team would learn something useful from this loss to progress forward.
Fan Frenzy
The win fueled The Magpies fans to celebrate through the night as they filled pubs with their black-and-white scarves especially at The Mad Dog & Mags near Euston Station. Following their loss supporters of Liverpool dedicated themselves to Premier League competition while both Gakpo and Robertson joined their teammates in celebrating Newcastle’s post-match victory procession despite their own disappointment.
Broader Implications
Newcastle’s New Era
This victory stands to launch Newcastle into better prospects. The team occupies sixth position in the Premier League while keeping Champions League qualification within reach because of the newfound confidence gained from this triumph together with Saudi Arabian financing for the club’s plans. The victor has proven to skeptics that he possesses exceptional tactical skills which enabled him to silence all critics.
Liverpool’s Next Steps
The failure at Anfield did not impact Liverpool’s continued progress in their current Premier League campaign. Newcastle United holds the advantage in their Premier League campaign through their 15-point lead and their manageable remaining fixtures. The defeat reveals the Salah-dependent attack and sluggish midfield that opponents could use to outsmart Newcastle United.
Conclusion
The sporting world will never forget March 16, 2025 as this was the day Newcastle United won their first trophy in 55 years by triumphing 2-1 over Liverpool while displaying determination and strategic play. Dan Burn together with Alexander Isak became the match-winners while Federico Chiesa missed out on crucial opportunities while Eddie Howe orchestrated Newcastle United’s greatest victory ever. The Newcastle victory represents both the rare misstep for Liverpool’s brilliant season as well as a victory that Newcastle fans have waited 55 years to see. Wembley now has a fresh history charted by the Newcastle United players and their triumphant win.
