Arne Slot has experienced defeat in his first significant final match as
Liverpool
manager – their 2-1 loss to
Newcastle United
At Wembley, there was a disappointing snag during what has otherwise been an outstanding first season for Jurgen Klopp’s replacement.
Nevertheless, Liverpool maintain a significant 12-point advantage over pursuers Arsenal atop the Premier League standings as they head into the concluding stretch. This presents them with a great chance to ensure that their defeat in the League Cup final fades from memory just as swiftly.
Slot wouldn’t be the first manager to recover from the letdown of losing their initial cup final in England. We’ve pinpointed four managers who later found considerable success despite facing this early defeat.
Rafael Benitez
The first trophy Jose Mourinho won in English football was the League Cup in 2005, which served as a crucial starting point for his subsequent achievements at Chelsea.
Chelsea claimed the title under Mourinho’s leadership, defeating Liverpool whose bench saw Rafa Benítez as their new manager that season.
Although the league performances were uneven — with Benítez’s Liverpool finishing four positions and 37 points below Mourinho’s Chelsea — the disappointment from the 3-2 loss in extra time at the Millennium Stadium quickly faded.
Three months later they were the champions of Europe after another thrilling final that went the distance.
Mauricio Pochettino
“What success?” some of you might be wondering. And that’s certainly a valid point to raise.
Pochettino was dismissed from his position at Tottenham in November 2019 following five years without winning any trophies. However, such a statement would significantly undersell the profound impact he made on the team during his tenure.
Seven years after Juande Ramos led Tottenham Hotspur to an unexpected victory over Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final, Pochettino failed to recreate that success as his team suffered a rather tame 2-0 loss against Jose Mourinho’s side — which went on to dominate the Premier League that season.
Nevertheless, Pochettino’s first season as manager demonstrated considerable potential, which later developed into significant competitiveness over the following years. In the 2016-17 campaign, they secured second place in the Premier League with an impressive total of 86 points. A few seasons afterward, they advanced to the UEFA Champions League final.
In the end, Spurs were unable to cross the finish line and claim any trophies under the Argentine manager. They will likely be remembered as one of English football’s notable ‘almost’ teams — unquestionably representing the finest squad Tottenham has fielded during the modern Premier League era.
Who can say how long it will take until they assemble another team of such caliber?
Jurgen Klopp
“Nothing until now because we all have to feel it right now,” Klopp replied during his post-match interview with Sky Sports when questioned about his comments to the team following Liverpool’s penalty loss to Man City in the 2016 League Cup final.
Obviously, this is how things work; you might stumble but then you must rise again, that’s the way of life.
We can’t alter this game at present, but we must continue, of course we will keep going.
During that season, the Reds experienced more letdowns after losing in the Europa League final.
However, they continued nonetheless.
In the subsequent year, they secured a spot within the top four. Following this achievement, they advanced to the Champions League final. Afterward, they clinched victory in that competition. Later, they claimed their inaugural Premier League title in three decades, which was swiftly followed by victories in both the FA Cup and two League Cups.
READ:
The three managers in English football history who have claimed victory in all four principal competitions.
Eddie Howe
The first English manager to claim a significant trophy since Harry Redknapp in 2008, Eddie Howe has etched his name into Newcastle United’s history by securing the club’s initial major domestic honor since 1969.
After suffering defeat against Manchester United in the 2023 League Cup final, Howe’s team managed two years later to pull off an unexpected victory over impending Premier League champions Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
What did Newcastle do differently this time around? Apparently, not much – but there was a small, unexpectedly logistical alteration.
“The most significant alteration since 2023 has been our accommodation,” the Newcastle manager stated to Sky Sports before the match began.
Our hotel was located just outside of London; about two years ago, we were situated right next to Wembley Stadium. During that time, we absorbed all the excitement from the fans and the atmosphere, perhaps too soon in our development phase.
Perhaps being off the beaten path might have a negligible impact.
Only time will reveal if this trophy will usher in a glorious new chapter for the Tyneside club, yet regardless of future developments, Howe has secured his status as a legendary figure at Newcastle United.
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TRY A QUIZ:
Could you list all the managers who have won the League Cup since 1990?
