Match reportLiverpool beaten at Wembley by Newcastle in Carabao Cup final

A header from defender Dan Burn in the opening period was added to by a strike via forward Alexander Isak early in the second half, to ultimately earn Eddie Howe’s side victory.

Reds substitute Federico Chiesa reduced the deficit with a low finish in stoppage time at the end of the contest - the goal awarded following a VAR review for offside - but Arne Slot’s men were beaten at the national stadium.

Team

Caoimhin Kelleher started in goal as one of two changes made by Slot from the XI deployed against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.

The other alteration saw Jarell Quansah step in at right-back for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate (Jones, 56), Diaz (Elliott, 74), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Gakpo, 67), Salah, Jota (Nunez, 56), Robertson, Gravenberch (Chiesa, 74), Quansah.

Unused subs: Alisson, Endo, Tsimikas, McConnell.

First half

The opening 10 minutes passed without major incident in the capital, with Newcastle looking the more threatening of the two teams.

Harvey Barnes twice got behind Liverpool in the early exchanges, though was unable to work an effort on goal, his first half-volley from a Jacob Murphy cross flying wide.

His second opportunity came following a slick free-kick move, which allowed him to break into the area, but his resulting cross was cleared away from danger.

Murphy then shot over from distance as the Reds began to assert themselves on the game by dominating much of the possession, albeit creating little in the final third.

Sandro Tonali tried his luck with a dipping low shot past Kelleher’s left post from outside the area, before Ibrahima Konate was forced to clear a fizzing ball into the six-yard box over his own crossbar from Murphy.

Newcastle continued to apply pressure in response with quick breaks and on the stroke of half-time found the lead they had earlier threatened.

Kieran Trippier’s corner kick was stood up into the box and Burn was left to run onto the ball and power a header home into the bottom corner of the net.

There was still time for Liverpool to attempt a response in added time, though Diogo Jota’s volley flew wide of the mark after Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz combined via a cross and header to find the forward.

Second half

Liverpool began on the front foot after the change of ends, but it was Newcastle who added to their lead to take control of the contest.

Isak was first denied a close-range tap-in from a corner situation by a raised offside flag in minute 50, although two minutes later was on the scoresheet for certain via a low drive.

Tino Livramento’s deep cross into the box was knocked down by Murphy, enabling the striker to drill home a first-time finish into the back of the net.

In response, Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez were introduced from the bench and the former threatened quickly, forcing goalkeeper Nick Pope into a strong save from inside the box.

Newcastle responded with a chance of their own, Isak turning on the volley to work Kelleher into a point-blank save after a cushioned pass from Barnes from the left.

As the game continued into the latter stages, Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott and Chiesa stepped off the bench too.

And Chiesa got on the scoresheet in added time as the Reds reduced the deficit, guiding in a low finish having been found with a through ball from Elliott.

The effort was initially ruled out for offside but that decision was overturned as a result of a VAR check that confirmed the goal was good.

However, Liverpool were unable to strike again in the short time remaining and Newcastle claimed the trophy.

Attendance: 88,513