Newcastle have ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy after deservedly beating Premier League rivals Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley.
Boyhood Toon fan Dan Burn gave Eddie Howe’s side the lead at the end of a bright first half after powering a header from Kieran Trippier’s corner delivery beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.
Newcastle thought they had gone 2-0 up after the break when Alexander Isak turned in from close range, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside against Bruno Guimaraes.
But the Swedish striker would not be denied as he quickly then curled into the bottom corner from inside the box after Jacob Murphy had knocked down Tino Livramento’s cross.
Isak should have made it 3-0 as he spurned a huge chance before Liverpool set up a nervy finish in stoppage time when Harvey Elliott’s through ball was fired in by fellow substitute Federico Chiesa, with the goal flagged offside before being given after a lengthy VAR check.
But Newcastle held on for their first trophy since the 1955 FA Cup, dealing Premier League champions-elect Liverpool their second major blow of the week after their Champions League hopes were also ended in the last 16 by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties at Anfield on Tuesday.
Newcastle were beaten two years ago in the Carabao Cup final by Manchester United, but from the start on Sunday, they looked like a team determined to stamp their name in the city's folklore as they plugged into the energy from their fans.
Liverpool, on the other hand, looked flat and appeared to be suffering a Champions League hangover after being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties on Tuesday.
After a cagey opening, Newcastle looked to be the greater threat, although they had little to show apart from a Sandro Tonali effort that flashed past the post.
Liverpool seemed happy to reach halftime all square until Burn, called up by England for the first time this week, sent the Newcastle fans into raptures in the 45th minute.
The towering center back, who returned to his local club in 2022, found himself marked by the diminutive Alexis Mac Allister, and it proved to be a no-contest as he met Kieran Trippier's corner to plant a header inside the far post past the diving Kelleher.
It was Burn's first goal of the season, and Newcastle's first at Wembley for 25 long years since Rob Lee scored in a losing FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea.
They did not have to wait long for their next goal and it came from a much more likely source.
Seven minutes after the break, just after Isak had a goal ruled out for offside, Jacob Murphy headed a cross into the path of the forward swept a shot who quick as a flash past Kelleher in front of the massed ranks of black and white.
Liverpool's first shot on target saw substitute Curtis Jones force Nick Pope to beat away his fierce drive, but it almost got worse for a stunned Liverpool with Isak denied from close range by Kelleher.
After such a long wait, it was never going to be drama-free for Newcastle and Chiesa's neat finish, allowed after initially being ruled offside, ensuring many chewed fingernails before the final whistle ended decades of despair.
