Newcastle United ends a seventy-year wait for a major domestic trophy in 2025
In short: On March 16, 2025, Newcastle United defeated Liverpool 2–1 at Wembley Stadium to claim the EFL Cup. This victory marked a historic milestone for the club, securing their first major domestic title since the 1955 FA Cup and ending one of the longest trophy droughts in English football history.
The 2025 EFL Cup final was the 65th iteration of the tournament and the 18th held at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium. For Newcastle, the win was a significant breakthrough. Before this match, their most recent major honour was the 1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, while their last domestic silverware dated back to the 1954–55 FA Cup. The path to the final saw Newcastle navigate a challenging route, including a penalty shootout victory over Nottingham Forest and a semi-final aggregate win against Arsenal.
Liverpool entered the match as the defending champions, making their record 15th appearance in the final. Despite their experience, they were unable to overcome Newcastle's momentum. Newcastle took the lead just before half-time through a Dan Burn header, followed by an Alexander Isak goal in the 52nd minute. Although Federico Chiesa scored for Liverpool in stoppage time, Newcastle held on to secure the trophy. Notably, Newcastle fielded six English starters, a rarity for a winning side in this competition since 1997.
The match drew massive interest, reaching over half of the United Kingdom's viewing public and broadcasting to 193 countries. The event was widely accessible, with live coverage provided by Sky and a simulcast on ITV1, alongside radio commentary from BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport. The victory was particularly poignant given the club's recent history of near-misses, including final appearances in 1976 and 2023. For Newcastle, this result finally closed the book on decades of frustration, cementing the 2025 squad in the club's lore.
The final was played under difficult circumstances for both managers, as injuries and suspensions depleted their squads. Newcastle were without Anthony Gordon due to a red card, while Lewis Hall and Sven Botman were sidelined by injuries. Liverpool also faced significant absences, including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez. Despite these setbacks, the match delivered a high-stakes spectacle that underscored the enduring prestige of the EFL Cup in the modern football landscape.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 EFL Cup final
- Also: Wikidata — 2025 EFL Cup final · CC0
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