Newcastle United will attempt to break their 56-year trophy drought when they take on Liverpool in the EFL Cup final at Wembley this Sunday. The Magpies have not lifted a major trophy since winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969 and have gone even longer without domestic success, with their last English triumph coming in the FA Cup in 1955.
The Magpies have only reached the EFL Cup final twice in their history, failing to lift the trophy on both occasions. Their first appearance came in 1976 against Manchester City, while their second was in 2023 against Manchester United. Both ended in heartbreak.
In 1976, Newcastle reached the final after defeating Southport, Bristol Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, Notts County, and Tottenham Hotspur. At Wembley, they faced Manchester City, who were seeking their second League Cup title. Peter Barnes gave City an early lead before Alan Gowling equalized for Newcastle. However, a stunning overhead kick from Dennis Tueart in the second half secured City’s 2-1 victory, leaving Newcastle empty-handed.
Fast forward to 2023, and Newcastle’s fortunes began to change following the Saudi Arabian-backed takeover in 2021. Under new manager Eddie Howe, the Magpies went from relegation contenders to top-four challengers and reached the EFL Cup final for the first time in 47 years.
That loss marked Newcastle’s final League Cup appearance for nearly five decades. For Manchester City, the win was their last major trophy until their FA Cup triumph in 2011. For Newcastle, it was another painful chapter in their long wait for silverware.
Their journey to Wembley saw them overcome Tranmere Rovers, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Leicester City, and Southampton in the semi-finals. However, their hopes were dampened when first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope was suspended for the final, and backup Martin Dubravka was cup-tied. This forced third-choice Loris Karius, known for his errors in the 2018 Champions League final, to start in goal.
Despite the passionate support from Newcastle fans, it wasn’t their day. Casemiro’s header and Marcus Rashford’s deflected strike in the first half secured a 2-0 victory for Manchester United, ending their own six-year trophy drought. It was a bitter pill for Newcastle, who had waited over two decades to reach a final.
Now, Eddie Howe’s side has another shot at glory against Liverpool. With the club’s recent resurgence and a squad filled with talent, Newcastle hopes to finally lift the EFL Cup and end their painful wait for silverware.