Dan Burn "Feels Like Dreaming" After Newcastle's Historic Carabao Cup Victory Over Liverpool
Newcastle United ended their 56-year trophy drought with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, giving local hero Dan Burn a week to remember after scoring the opening goal just days after his first England call-up.
The 32-year-old boyhood Newcastle supporter from Blyth was central to the celebrations after his powerful header from Kieran Trippier's corner gave the Magpies the lead just before half-time. It was Newcastle's first cup final goal since 1976.
"I've had worse weeks," Burn told Sky Sports after the match. "I don't want to go to sleep because I feel like I'm dreaming and it's all going to be a lie. I don't get many so I saved it for a big occasion. I feel strange, I feel numb at the minute."
Despite the celebrations, Burn remained committed to his England duties, adding: "I'll be first there tomorrow [at England training] at 8 o'clock."
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who arrived at the post-match news conference smelling of beer after being soaked by Joelinton and other players, praised Burn's contribution: "What a few days for Dan. His performance today was colossal at the back. We were working on those corners tirelessly for two weeks. He's delivered one from long range. Incredible header. So fitting it's him."
Liverpool manager Arne Slot offered insight into how Burn managed to score his header: "Normally, and I think he's an exception, I've never seen in my life a player from that far away heading a ball with so much force into the far corner. Ninety-nine out of 100 times that will not lead to a goal. Credit to him, he's one of the few players that can score a goal from that distance with his head."
Alexander Isak added Newcastle's second goal in the second half before Federico Chiesa netted a late consolation for Liverpool, leading to a nervy finish. "It was tough when Liverpool scored," said Howe. "I was thinking about extra time. We always make it difficult for ourselves, so it was never going to be 2-0."
The victory marks Newcastle's first trophy since the 1969 Inter-City Fairs Cup and their first domestic trophy since the 1955 FA Cup. Thirty different English league clubs had won major trophies during that drought, including two FA Cup final losses in 1998 and 1999, and last year's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United.
"The curse stuff for me never existed," Howe commented. "With such a long wait for a trophy I'm sure everyone will never forget it. There are different ways to win trophies - today was the best way to win it. We played the best team in the Premier League by a long way and we were the better team."
Howe, who became the first English manager to win a major trophy in England since Harry Redknapp's 2008 FA Cup win with Portsmouth, revealed how he prepared his team differently from their 2023 final defeat: "The first time we got to Wembley was very emotional. You could sense that in the players and the crowd. I don't think it helped our performance. This time we tried to take away distractions and make it similar to a Premier League build-up."
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, whose name was sung throughout the match, expressed his emotions after the victory: "It's all for these fans. They deserve everything. When I first came here I said I wanted to put my name in history. We can now say we are the champions again. I don't have any words. It's the best day of my life. For them [the fans] it's like the World Cup. People have grown up and not seen us as champions."
The Brazilian midfielder, who joined Newcastle in 2022 as one of the first signings under Howe and the Saudi ownership, added: "My first year as captain of this club and it's one of the best days. This is unbelievable. This is my second home. We are making history. Some day when I leave this club I want the fans to sing my name the way they do to Alan Shearer. He texted me before the game. I'm so emotional today."
As for the celebrations, Howe encouraged his players to enjoy the moment: "I encourage them not to be professional tonight and not worry about tomorrow too much."
