Arne Slot says he experienced something for the very 'first time' in Liverpool's loss to Newcastle United

Arne Slot is not bitter about Newcastle United beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

The Magpies ended their trophy drought at Liverpool’s expense, with Eddie Howe’s side winning 2-1 at Wembley to lift the 2025 Carabao Cup.

Newcastle’s celebrations have been incredible, while Liverpool have been forced to lick their wounds after their Champions League exit was swiftly followed by Wembley heartache.

The Reds went into the final as favourites, but it was Newcastle United who were the dominant side. It was an outstanding performance from the Magpies, as Howe made history by winning the club’s first domestic trophy since 1955.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Arne Slot says Newcastle United ‘outworked’ Liverpool

The result was no fluke, and Liverpool manager Arne Slot has continued to pay tribute to Newcastle United for their performance more than two weeks after the final.

Ahead of their Premier League clash with Everton, Slot told the media that Howe’s side absolutely deserved to win at Wembley.

“I was a bit more frustrated about the final [than losing to PSG in the Champions League] because I think we deserved to lose that one,” he said.

“That is the first time we have deserved to lose a football game. We were not tough in terms of defending. We were not good with the ball. There were not many things to like about the final.”

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Slot added: “For the final we were also outworked and that is not what I like.”

The Dutchman deserves respect for his attitude in the aftermath of the final.

He easily could have made excuses such as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s unavailability or his players being tired, but he simply admitted that Newcastle United were the better team on the day.

Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup win all the more special

It did not matter who Newcastle United beat in the final. Just winning a trophy was the most important thing.

However, it is even more special that Newcastle United ended their trophy drought by beating the best team in the country. This Liverpool side are going to become Premier League champions, yet the Magpies convincingly beat them at Wembley.

Not only that, but Newcastle’s journey to Wembley was incredibly difficult too. On their way to the final, Howe’s side beat Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Arsenal – three teams who are challenging to qualify for the Champions League.

Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup the hard way, that is for sure.

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