It was clear even before kick-off that Arne Slot’s pre-match assessment was wrong.
So much of the pre-match build-up to Sunday's Carabao Cup centered around how this was Newcastle United’s opportunity to overturn 70 years of hurt, for new legends to write their names into the folklore and for purported ‘curses’ to be banished.
In a one-team city, children were encouraged to come to school with faces painted black and white this week, Eddie Howe spoke about his team 'making history' and Bruno Guimarares claimed this was Newcastle’s 'World Cup final'.
In contrast, this mightn’t have even been Liverpool’s biggest game this week given the Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
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The Reds added their 10th EFL Cup win last season - more than any other side - and is on course to win a record-equalling 20th league title this season. Of course this game meant more to a success-starved Newcastle.
“I don't along with that. If you reach a final, it is always a big moment for them and also for us,” was Slot’s verdict ahead of the game. “We have two cups but you cannot take it for granted in this country. We don't play a final every year.
But as Newcastle fans booed You’ll Never Walk Alone with gusto, waved their free scarves over their heads and repeatedly serenaded their black-and-white striped heroes, it was clear even before kick-off that this game meant more to those from the North-East.
It continued into the game. Steven Gerrard appearing on the screen was met with jeers, while Ant & Dec were cheered on Newcastle's first joyful day at Wembley in decades. Liverpool will be back here in August, but this was always a game the Magpies were going to give everything in. Joelinton's scream and gesticulating to the crowd when he won the ball back said it all.
Misjudging the motivation levels wasn’t the only thing Slot and his management team got wrong on Sunday. The former Feyenoord boss has done a magnificent job since his arrival last summer, but the Carabao Cup final was the most bruising game of his tenure to date.
The Liverpool boss discussed his options at right-back in Friday’s press conference, rattling through the names of Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas. But it was Quansah who started, a selection that backfired given who often Newcastle advanced down its left.
Selecting Diogo Jota up front is another choice Slot may rethink if he had the chance again as every long ball into the Newcastle defensive area was returned by the burly defenders Fabian Schar and Dan Burn. But the biggest frustration from Liverpool’s coaching team will be its inability to pick the players up from Tuesday’s penalty heartbreak.
“That [playing Newcastle after the PSG elimination] is the good thing about where we are now in the league and cup. Everyone wants to play it and that is why we get up and come here to train — a chance to win a trophy.”
There was another pre-match verdict Slot came to regret. This was a poor a display as Liverpool has produced all season. That it took until first-half injury-time for Liverpool to manage a shot of any description sums it up - as did one effort on target in regular 90 minutes.
Slot's changes 12 minutes after the break indicated just how bad his side were, and it could have been worse were it not for some excellent Caoimhin Kelleher saves.
The Liverpool boss has nearly three weeks to stew on this game and reflect on what went wrong. He certainly needs that time to dissect the plethora of mistakes made across the board by a side outbattle and overrun at Wembley.
