Of course, it is impossible to completely escape a city’s feelings and expectations — especially when the club’s all-time leading scorer, Alan Shearer, texts the club captain, Bruno Guimaraes, on the eve of the game. But his message was not one spewing emotion, but a clinical instruction: “Bring that trophy back.”

Because the great drought is over; their Wembley jinx with it, Liverpool’s league leaders eviscerated as Newcastle celebrated. Their previous trophy at Wembley came a few weeks after Winston Churchill had stood down as prime minister.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot dismissed the idea Newcastle United's players were "hungrier" in Sunday's Carabao Cup final, but admitted Eddie Howe's side were deserved winners.