Gibbs: “Slot has to realise you can’t do that in Cup Finals” after Newcastle defeat | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Carabao Cup Final Disaster: Tactical Blunders, Fatigue and Newcastle’s Historic Triumph

Liverpool fell to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final in a performance that Eddie Gibbs on The Gags Tandon Show called “embarrassing from minute one.” In a game that could have given the Reds their 11th League Cup, they instead delivered one of their worst performances under Arne Slot. The result was Newcastle’s first major trophy in over 70 years—an occasion Eddie Howe’s men fully deserved.

This wasn’t just a defeat; it was an outright failure to compete. Liverpool were second best in almost every department, and questions now arise about the manager’s squad rotation and the impact of fatigue on the season’s run-in.

Newcastle Wanted It More

Newcastle approached the game with intensity, aggression, and hunger—qualities Liverpool lacked. Gibbs highlighted that from the first whistle, the Magpies were “first in almost every challenge,” while Liverpool were “far too passive.”

The absence of tactical adaptability was glaring. “It seemed like a tactic to be that way,” Gibbs said of Liverpool’s first-half approach, but this was no well-thought-out strategy—it was simply poor football. Slot’s side allowed Newcastle to dictate the game and never looked capable of responding.

Newcastle’s midfield battle plan was clear: suffocate Liverpool’s build-up, cut the supply line to Mohamed Salah, and dominate physically. Jack McIndoe pointed out that Newcastle’s midfield, particularly Joelinton, “won everything,” adding, “he just completely bossed the game.”

Photo: IMAGO

Slot’s Tactical Failures Exposed

Slot got his selection and in-game decisions badly wrong. The most baffling tactical choice was Alexis Mac Allister marking Dan Burn on set pieces—a mismatch Gibbs found incomprehensible. “I can’t get how that was a plan to start with. I can’t get how it wasn’t changed after the first time it happened,” he said, incredulous that the 5’10” Mac Allister was left competing against the towering 6’6” Burn.

Liverpool’s set-piece defending was shocking, and as Gibbs pointed out, they don’t even have a set-piece coach. “It was so negligent. It was so silly,” he added. Even at halftime, after it had cost Liverpool a goal, nothing changed. “I racked my brains the whole second half, and then they started doing it again. I really don’t get this one.”

Squad Rotation Comes Back to Bite

Liverpool’s tired legs and lack of energy weren’t just an issue in this game—it was a consequence of Slot’s reluctance to rotate his squad properly. “The way Slot has used this squad has been so poor,” Gibbs stated. Players like Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott have been overlooked, only to be thrown into the mix when desperation strikes.

McIndoe also pointed out the impact of fatigue, saying, “for the seventh season on the bounce, this Liverpool team has been absolutely outworked.” This isn’t just a one-off cup final failure—it’s a symptom of deeper problems within the squad.

As Gibbs noted, “If he wasn’t intending to use this squad, then Liverpool should have strengthened in January.” They didn’t, and the gamble has now cost them their first real shot at silverware this season.

Photo: IMAGO

What This Means for Liverpool’s Title Push

Despite the disappointment, Liverpool’s title chances remain strong. “Liverpool are still 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League, so it’s not like you can say Slot’s got everything wrong,” Gibbs admitted. However, the concern is whether this defeat seeps into their league form.

McIndoe was adamant this performance couldn’t repeat itself in the league, stating, “We can’t allow that performance to creep into the Premier League football.” If it does, Liverpool’s advantage could slip away.

That said, Gibbs remains confident: “I honestly don’t think it will. This is a game in isolation… Liverpool just didn’t show up. It happens in football.”

With a crucial stretch of games ahead, the challenge for Slot is clear: he must ensure this cup final humiliation is a lesson learned rather than a sign of things to come. If Liverpool are to secure their 20th league title, they cannot afford another night like this.