3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2 | OneFootball

Sunday’s match ended Newcastle 1 Liverpool 2.

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

An interesting day at Wembley…

PLENTY to talk about after this one.

On this occasion it is David Punton:

POSITIVES

History is made

March 16th, 2025, is etched in time for all Newcastle fans. It’s indelible.

It was the day that we finally ended decades of hurt and secured a major trophy, seeing off table topping Liverpool at Wembley Stadium, amid one the most magical atmospheres that this famous venue may possibly have ever seen.

The big takeaway was the significance of the achievement.

Newcastle United finally punched its weight.

Generations got to see us win a cup. Young and old. The monkey is off our backs.

It was a day none of us will ever forget. It may not quite have sunk in yet, but it will do soon, and we’ll look back at just how incredible it was.

There were tears of joy, and rightly so.

The most enjoyable moment as an NUFC supporter. I am sure many fans will feel the same.

A united Newcastle

A huge mention for Eddie Howe.

He works tirelessly. His attention to detail is immense and he’s a master tactician.

The visit to Anfield a few weeks ago allowed him to sell the Reds a pup on how we play? He seemed to indicate that was the case.

Howe also offers hope to English managers that they can succeed in our game. He is the first Englishman to oversee a cup win since Harry Redknapp in 2008 at Portsmouth.

As for the players, every single one of them delivered when it mattered.

All the recent wobbles we’ve had can be forgiven. It was always about the final and getting it right on the big day.

They did. I’d not swap it for anything, even as I trudged asway from the Brighton FA Cup loss a few weeks back.

The game plan was meticulous and executed with a laser like focus.

Everyone knew their job and worked their socks off for the entire 100 plus minutes of a game we weren’t strongly fancied to win.

The beauty of the Dan Burn header was just the start.

We smothered Liverpool, silencing Salah, and winning the key battle in midfield.

Isak showed his class with a sublime finish after half time, a moment which really set us on the way.

Joelinton covered every blade of grass and he tackled like a tiger. That trio, of him, Bruno and Tonali was extremely effective.

Trippier, the player who kicked off this new era, drew on all his experience and footballing brains to put in a superb shift from right back. Real leadership.

It was a strong show from all in black and white. Harvey Barnes having his best game for a while. That win at West Ham offering a glimmer of confidence as Liverpool battled the mental fatigue of losing to PSG on penalties after 120 minutes.

Pope with that key save in the second half.

This Newcastle team are truly united. The fans are united and the city is united.

The lad from Blyth

It’s a story that just has to be singled out. It fetches a tear to the eye.

Dan Burn, of Blyth in Northumberland, is the rock on which this cup win was built. The cornerstone of success.

In years to come he’ll be feted and I don’t think he’ll need to pay for a pint in town ever again.

This is a footballer who didn’t make it as a kid when at Newcastle United, then went into non-league and worked his way up the leagues, eventually making it to the Premier League with Brighton and then finding a way back to NUFC. Best £12m spent ever.

A fan who scored in the cup final for HIS club. All just days after earning a call up to the England squad at the age of 32.

Burn’s headed goal gets better every time you see it. Etched into local legend. To thump the ball home from that far out with a header is stupendous.

He then marshalled the defence and got us over the line. With Botman out for so long, he’s carried so much extra work load this season, but he’s made of pure granite.

Blyth’s finest. The town should be proud of him. He’s the true local hero.

He even went one better than Mr Shearer, getting his hands on silverware in the famous black and white shirt.

NEGATIVES

Our first domestic cup since 1955 and I have to find negatives!

More goals

We should have won by more goals. 2-1 flattered Liverpool. It ought to have been 3-0 and we ought to have avoided that nerve shredding final ten minutes.

Harsh offside

Isak’s goal that was chalked off was a harsh decision. It should have stood.

Wrong call on sub?

Perhaps Isak coming off on 80 minutes wasn’t the right call, but that’s as far as I’m going on negatives, we won the cup man!

Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2 – Sunday 16 March 4.30pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Burn 45, Isak 52

Liverpool:

Chiesa 90+4

Possession was Newcastle 34% Liverpool 66%

Total shots were Newcastle 17 Liverpool 7

Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Liverpool 2

Corners were Newcastle 9 Liverpool 4

Touches in the box Newcastle 26 Liverpool 17

Newcastle team v Liverpool:

Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Willock 81), Isak (Wilson 81), Murphy (Krafth 90)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Longstaff, Targett, Osula, Miley, Neave

(Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2 – Match ratings and comments on all the Newcastle United players – Read HERE)