Newcastle won the League Cup for the first time in 2024/25 when they performed brilliantly to beat Liverpool 2-1 with goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak. It was United’s first major domestic trophy in seventy years.
Newcastle have been defeated finalists on two occasions. Their first appearance was in 1975/76 where a flu and injury-ravaged side were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City. Alan Gowling equalised Peter Barnes’ opener, but Newcastle-born Dennis Tueart scored the winner with a spectacular overhead-kick.
In 2022/23 Eddie Howe led the Magpies to Wembley, but a lack of experience on the big stage saw them underperform and two goals in quick succession won the trophy for Manchester United.
Newcastle have taken part in the League Cup since its inception in 1960/61. The first game was against struggling Third Division Colchester United at Layer Road. They would be relegated after conceding 101 goals, but comfortably dispatched United 4-1 having scored twice in the first four minutes.Duncan Neale has the distinction of scoring the Magpies first goal in the competition.
Newcastle’s first victory came against Scunthorpe in the following season when they won 2-0 at St. James’ Park. Ken Hale and Ivor Allchurch were on target.
Newcastle’s record victory in the competition is the 7-0 victory at Morecambe in the 2020/21 season. Joelinton grabbed a brace as United led 6-0 after only 51 minutes. They were helped by dismissal for a bad challenge. Previous to that United had won by six goals on four occasions.
Newcastle’s worst defeat is the 7-2 defeat suffered at Old Trafford in the 1976/77 season. Magpies keeper Mick Mahoney had a personal nightmare as Gordon Hill scored a hat-trick for the Red Devils.