Newcastle United tops Liverpool 2-1 to take Carabao Cup

With the business at the top of the Premier League seemingly already settled and Wolves’ 2-1 victory over Southampton making it increasingly unlikely that any of the current bottom three will clamber to safety, the season's focus has shifted to those battling for coveted European qualification spots.

A mere ten points now separate Chelsea in 4th place from Crystal Palace in 10th, with the South Londoners having a game in hand over many teams above them. With the Premier League likely to be awarded five Champions League spots this year and the possibility that teams as low as 8th or 9th may secure a European place, it sets up an exciting conclusion to the season, particularly considering the erratic form of the teams vying for those spots.

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Despite the ups and downs of the race for these European spots, the story of the week was undoubtedly at Wembley, where Newcastle United won their first significant honor this side of the moon landings, a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. 

Newcastle’s victory is a Fairy Tale for one of England’s biggest clubs, which lost its last five significant finals - including back-to-back FA final defeats at the end of the previous century. Of course, it is somewhat less of a Cinderella story when you remember that Newcastle United is the sportswashing vehicle of one of the world’s most oppressive regimes. But that’s another story for another day.

While Newcastle’s historic victory was rightly lauded, the real story might be more about the losers than the winners. A few months ago, Liverpool looked unstoppable, running away with the Premier League and steam-rolling all before them in the Champions League phase. However, successive defeats to PSG and Newcastle have reduced what once seemed like a potential three-trophy haul to one. 

Whilst Arnie Slott’s achievement in leading Liverpool to the title in his first year, which he seems destined to do, is a remarkable achievement that shouldn’t be overlooked, the margin of their lead in the league, coupled with the inconsistency of their rivals, has meant that many Liverpool fans now view failure to secure more than the league as something of an anticlimax.

The post-Christmas malaise and the potential departures of key players—Virgil van Dijk (crucial), Mohamed Salah (very important), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (somewhat less important)—have left many Liverpool fans, who once dreamt of a new era of dominance, suddenly feeling a little uncertain about the club’s long-term future.

Is Tiki-Taka Dead?

This weekend, I had the chance to watch two live matches: a lively and entertaining draw between Manchester City and Brighton and a much duller encounter between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. Both matches (The latter game in particular) were notable for the lack of attacking creativity and penetration in the final third. 

The notable exceptions were Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku, the flying winger whose dynamic runs down the left wing showcased a perfect blend of power and skill, and Fulham’s Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz, who, in his brief cameo, caused more disruption than all the other attacking players combined.

Both Doku and Muniz were a refreshing throwback to the 1990s. Doku was a direct threat by staying wide on the left touchline and consistently attacking the right back on the outside. There was no cutting inside, no underlapping runs, and, most pleasing, no unnecessary backward passes to reset the play. 

For his part, Muniz brought physicality and pace to Fulham’s attack, playing the role of an old-fashioned target man. And it didn’t take long for his presence to turn the game in Fulham’s favor, with him playing a crucial role in the game’s all-important opening goal.  First, his strength allowed him to bully the Spur's defense before he found himself in the eighteen-yard box (a seeming rarity for strikers these days) to apply a brilliant finish.

Watching direct, fast, and consequential football was refreshing in a modern era defined by passing out from the back, breaking high presses, and attempting to pass opponents into submission. While it may not be as technically refined or intelligent as Tiki-Taka, it is undoubtedly more entertaining. 

So, while the rumors of Tika-Taka’s demise may be premature, I hope more managers feel emboldened to break the mold and embrace something new by returning to something ancient.