David Lynch’s 5 Takeaways from Liverpool’s Carabao Cup Final Defeat | OneFootball

David Lynch’s 5 Key Takeaways from Liverpool’s 1-2 Defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final

Liverpool’s hopes of retaining the Carabao Cup were shattered as Newcastle claimed a 2-1 victory at Wembley, ending their 70-year trophy drought. In his post-match analysis, David Lynch broke down the key reasons behind Liverpool’s defeat. From a lack of physicality to missed opportunities, here are five major takeaways from his analysis.

1. Newcastle Wanted It More

From the first whistle, Newcastle were on the front foot. Lynch noted, “Liverpool absolutely deserved to be beaten. Newcastle snapped into everything, covered every blade of grass, and were just a fantastic performance from them.”

The stats backed this up. Newcastle registered 17 shots to Liverpool’s seven, and their expected goals (xG) of 1.84 nearly doubled Liverpool’s 0.89. Liverpool were dominated in duels, losing 51 compared to Newcastle’s 81, which Lynch described as a decisive factor.

2. Physicality and Midfield Battles Were Key

Liverpool struggled in physical battles throughout the game. Lynch pointed out how Bruno Guimarães won more duels (9) than Liverpool’s entire midfield combined (8). “If that doesn’t show you that Liverpool need to add some more physicality and legs this summer, I don’t know what will,” he remarked.

He also referenced Newcastle’s dominance in aerial battles, saying: “68% of the aerial duels in this match were won by Newcastle. It was a clear mismatch.”

3. Trent Alexander-Arnold Was a Huge Miss

With Trent Alexander-Arnold unavailable, Liverpool struggled to progress the ball. Lynch stated: “How good would it have been to have Trent Alexander-Arnold there, playing the ball through the lines, getting crosses in from out wide?”

Instead, Jarell Quansah, a natural centre-back, was deployed at right-back. Lynch observed that Quansah, though promising, couldn’t offer the same creative outlet. He warned that if Trent does leave for Real Madrid, Liverpool will need to find another way to progress the ball effectively.

Photo: IMAGO

4. Squad Rotation Must Improve Next Season

One of the biggest criticisms Lynch had was Arne Slot’s squad management. He questioned whether Liverpool’s recent struggles were due to tired legs rather than just physicality issues.

“Would Liverpool have lost so many battles across the pitch had this game been played earlier in the season? It’s something Slot must think about.”

He also suggested that Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones should have been trusted more during the season to ease the workload.

5. Premier League Title Still in Liverpool’s Hands

Despite the disappointment of back-to-back defeats to PSG and Newcastle, Lynch dismissed concerns over Liverpool’s Premier League campaign.

“Some fans are panicking, but let me put this on record: Liverpool will not throw away a 12-point lead with nine games left. It’s not going to happen.”

He insisted that winning the league would be a massive success, stating: “If you don’t think winning the Premier League is an impressive achievement, maybe go back and check the pundits’ predictions at the start of the season.”

Photo: IMAGO

Conclusion

While Liverpool were second-best against Newcastle, this defeat doesn’t define their season. Lynch urged fans to focus on the bigger picture, saying, “Liverpool will win the league title. They just won’t win the Carabao Cup or the Champions League, unfortunately.”

However, he was clear that Liverpool must learn from this loss. Adding physicality, improving squad rotation, and preparing for a potential post-Trent era should be priorities for Slot and his recruitment team.