Slot defends Liverpool’s hunger after Newcastle’s Carabao Cup triumph | OneFootball

Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle: Slot’s Side Stumble as Howe’s Men End Trophy Drought

Painful Wembley Night for Liverpool

Arne Slot dismissed any suggestion that his Liverpool side lacked hunger in their Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United. Yet, under the Wembley lights, it was Eddie Howe’s men who seized their moment, lifting their first domestic major trophy since 1955 with a 2-1 victory.

Newcastle struck first, Dan Burn rising to head home before Alexander Isak doubled the lead just after the break. A late Federico Chiesa goal for Liverpool proved a mere consolation. It was a bitter blow for Slot, who had seen his team triumph in the competition in both 2022 and 2024.

For Newcastle, the long wait was over. Two years after their last Carabao Cup final appearance ended in defeat to Manchester United, they returned stronger, sharper, and, crucially, victorious.

Slot Defends Liverpool’s Desire

In the aftermath, Slot faced questions about whether Newcastle simply wanted it more. His response was unequivocal.

“No, because it’s 70 years since they last won a trophy maybe, but that’s for the fans,” Slot stated. “Players have 15 years to play football and they want to win every single trophy they are competing for. That’s also what we want.”

The Dutchman conceded that Newcastle had been more effective in imposing their game. “They got just before half-time some extra energy with the goal, which they probably deserved after the first 45 minutes because they were threatening us more than we were threatening them,” he admitted.

Liverpool, by contrast, found themselves battling against momentum. “I don’t think there was more hunger for them; the game went the way they wanted it to go and they are stronger in that part of football than us and that’s why they beat us.”

Tough Week Takes Its Toll

Liverpool’s fixture list had been relentless. Barely five days before the final, Slot’s team endured a gruelling penalty shootout exit to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. A few weeks earlier, they had crashed out of the FA Cup to Plymouth Argyle.

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With little time to recover, fatigue was a factor. Slot, however, refused to use it as an excuse. “If you looked at how we played on Tuesday, it was the best physical performance in my eight, or nine or 10 months at Liverpool. I’ve never seen a team working so hard, trying to press the other team so aggressively; running so much.”

Newcastle’s victory, however, wasn’t about work rate—it was about dominance in duels, something Slot acknowledged. “Today, it wasn’t about running. It was more about duels. Mentally, it’s always tough to lose a final.”

Focus Shifts to Premier League Title Race

With cup ambitions extinguished, Liverpool’s season now hinges entirely on the Premier League. Slot’s side sit 12 points clear of Arsenal at the summit, but there is no room for complacency. A Merseyside derby against Everton on April 2 looms large, and Liverpool cannot afford to let the disappointment of Wembley linger.

Slot, pragmatic as ever, summed up the realities of football. “It’s part of football if you face strong teams that you can lose as well. Ideally, you go through the whole season only winning, winning, winning. But it can happen that after eight months of football, you lose twice in a row if you face Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle.”

Liverpool’s hunger will now be measured by their response. Wembley hurt, but the bigger prize remains within reach.