Here are the player ratings as Newcastle exorcised their demons with a massive 2-1 win over Premier League leaders Liverpool to capture the 2025 Carabao Cup.
Liverpool Player Ratings
GK Caoimhin Kelleher, 7.5
Made two amazing reflex saves to keep Liverpool in the game, though he could have stopped the opener if he read that Dan Burn could have only gotten enough power by heading the ball to the far post. He should have started his position closer to the far post, but these are the little things he will pick up with experience.
LB Andrew Robertson, 6.0
CB Ibrahima Konate, 7.0
Had some nice blocks and actually played pretty well defensively, but he was the one ultimately sacrificed before the hour mark with Newcastle up 2-0 since Arne Slot needed goals.
CB Virgil van Dijk, 7.5
After Konate went out of the match, he seemed to be defending all comers all on his lonesome Van Dijk didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat.
RB Jarell Quansah, 5.5
Needless to say, Trent Alexander-Arnold was sorely missed.
CM Alexis Mac Allister, 4.0
Did nothing and chased shadows in midfield all game long before being mercifully substituted for the more attacking Cody Gakpo.
CM Ryan Gravenberch, 5.0
Worked hard defensively but was dreadful on the ball. He completed just 81 percent of his passes despite playing deeper than anyone else, and he offered no real progression or creation going forward.
AM Dominik Szoboszlai, 4.0
Offered almost nothing to the Liverpool cause. At this point, Dominik Szoboszlai is skating on reputation and completely leaving his team out to dry with listless performances in big matches. He was much better in the Bundesliga.
LW Luis Diaz, 6.5
One of the only few competent outfield players for Liverpool and didn’t deserve to be subbed. He had to do the work of two wingers because Mohamed Salah was so isolated and uninvolved on the right.
RW Mohamed Salah, 2.0
Invisible. Liverpool may have as well been playing with 10 men. This was an all-time ghost performance from a player otherwise having an all-time season in the Premier League.
ST Diogo Jota, 4.5
An underwhelming performance from a player who, more often than not, seems to go invisible in the important games. He needs to start caring more about scoring goals and less about pulling shenanigans off the ball.
Newcastle Player Ratings
GK Nick Pope, 7.0
Deserved the clean sheet – that he ended up losing to Federico Chiesa – with active, confidence goalkeeping and reminded the nation of his quality with a brilliant save with a swinging arm while his momentum was tracking in the opposite direction.
LB Tino Livramento, 6.0
CB Dan Burn, 7.5
Scored the opener with a very well-taken, bombing header and was never troubled defensively.
CB Fabian Schar, 7.5
Though he struggled on the ball at times, he was as good as Virgil van Dijk on the other end.
RB Kieran Trippier, 7.0
Worked extraordinarily hard to win possession defensively and urge the team forward on the attacking end. Kieran Trippier deserves more respect as a footballer, in all honesty.
CM Joelinton, 7.5
Battles in midfield like nobody else. One of the unsung heroes of this big Carabao Cup Final win for Newcastle.
CM Sandro Tonali, 6.5
Battered and bruised, Tonali put it all on the line defensively in a real leader’s display at the heart of the Newcastle midfield.
CM Bruno Guimaraes, 7.0
A solid all-around performance on both ends of the pitch that should not be unsung, though his sloppy passing blighted the overall impact of the display.
LW Harvey Barnes, 6.0
Did a nice job of trying to create chances in the final third for his teammates, but if his cutback for Isak were more accurate, we’d be talking about this as a 3-0 blowout victory for Newcastle.
ST Alexander Isak, 7.0
Got his revenge for an unfairly disallowed goal with a brilliant first-time finish to make things 2-0, and he nearly had a brace shortly after. Imagine how good Alexander Isak would be, though, if he could only pass the ball more accurately.
RW Jacob Murphy, 7.5
Grabbed an assist and was never afraid to take the ball on in the final third, take shots on, and make things happen for his teammates. An underrated, all-action display from a quality cog in the Newcastle wheel, and Murphy also deserves praise for a positive defensive display.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.