Sunday's exciting EFL Cup final pits bridesmaids against brides, with Newcastle United, devoid of trophies, hoping to take the cup from Liverpool's clutches beneath the Wembley arch.
The Magpies would have ended a tortuous trophy drought that is likely to reach 70 years, or Arne Slot would have won his first honor in English football before the end of play on March 16.
After beating Chelsea in the 2021–22 championship game, Liverpool, who was formerly Manchester City's mainstay, has emerged as the dominant power in the EFL Cup and is attempting to hold onto the crown they won this time last year.
With a record-breaking 10 League Cup titles already to their name, Liverpool's eight FA Cup triumphs put them on the verge of a historic 19th domestic cup victory in English football. A win would see them draw level with their fierce rivals, Manchester United, who currently hold the all-time record.
The Reds have steamrolled past West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton, and Tottenham Hotspur on their path to Wembley. A victory would not only secure silverware but also mark a step toward a domestic double, as they currently sit comfortably 15 points ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
However, any dreams of a seventh Champions League title have been dashed. Arne Slot’s squad suffered a heartbreaking yet well-fought exit in the last 16 against Paris Saint-Germain, losing on penalties. PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma reprised his penalty-saving heroics on English soil, much like he did in Italy's Euro 2020 final win.
Liverpool, however, have every reason to believe in their chances at Wembley. The last four times the reigning EFL Cup holders reached the final the following season, they have successfully defended their title—a trend they will be eager to continue.
Yet, no team in Britain is more motivated to break that pattern than Newcastle United. The Magpies have been yearning for silverware since their 1955 FA Cup triumph, their last major trophy win.
Under Eddie Howe’s leadership, they came agonizingly close to ending that drought in the 2022-23 campaign but fell short against Manchester United in the final. That painful loss extended their streak of domestic cup final defeats to five in a row—a curse they are desperate to break.
Despite holding a one-goal aggregate advantage heading into their home second leg, Liverpool suffered a shocking Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. After a 1-0 defeat following 90 minutes and extra time, the penalty shootout favored Luis Enrique’s side, eliminating the league phase winners in dramatic fashion.
However, Arne Slot and his squad have the perfect chance to bounce back immediately. This final marks Slot’s first official opportunity to claim silverware as Liverpool’s manager, though the Premier League title is virtually assured in the coming months. Having previously secured cup final victories with Feyenoord, Slot will be optimistic about adding another trophy to his resume.
Newcastle United, on the other hand, has endured a lengthy trophy drought, with their last major triumph dating back to 1969 when they won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Since then, heartbreak has followed, with several near misses in domestic cup finals—most notably in 1998, 1999, and most recently in 2023 when they fell to Manchester United in the League Cup final.
This Sunday presents Eddie Howe’s team with another golden opportunity to etch their names into Newcastle’s history books by securing the long-awaited major honor their supporters have yearned for. However, to achieve that, they must deliver an exceptional performance against the dominant Premier League leaders, Liverpool.
