Carabao Cup attendances highest in almost 25 years – and up 20 per cent on last season – as 1.7m punters buy tickets and Wembley final is sold out

Sunday’s sold-out Wembley final capped a fine season for Carabao Cup attendances.

The figure of more than 1.7million paying punters across the competition was the highest since its change in format in 2001-02 and was up 20 per cent on last season.

The fact the clash between Newcastle and Liverpool was free-to-air for the first time in more than a decade also left delighted EFL officials expecting a boost in audience figures.

The game, which the Magpies won 2-1 to end their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy, was broadcast for free on ITV.

In an electric atmosphere at the national stadium, Eddie Howe‘s side earned a deserved victory after goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak.

Howe praised his squad post-match, saying: ‘They’ve all had different journeys to get to this point, but we’ve come together as a squad.

Over 1.7million paying punters bought tickets for fixtures across the competition

‘I love working with them every day. I am honoured to be their leader.

‘And for the supporters, who came in there thousands today, who supported us back home. Since I’ve been at the football club, the support we’ve had home and away has been incredible. So I’m just so pleased they have this trophy to end the long wait. 

‘And hopefully we can get some more in the future.’ 

Reds boss Arne Slot, however, refused to focus on the negatives and instead pointed to his side’s 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Slot said: ‘It took us seven months to lose twice in a row and it happened against two teams – one fighting for Champions League places and the other is PSG.

‘At the moment PSG are probably the best team in Europe but I want to make clear, the week started really well by us beating Southampton so the lead is 12 points. 

‘You know if you go further into tournaments that the opposition get stronger and stronger. And even Liverpool can lose games.

‘It is 70 years since they last won a trophy but that is for the fans. The players have 15 years to play football and they want to win every single trophy they play for, and that is what we want.

‘They got some extra energy with the goal, which they probably deserved, so I don’t think there was more hunger for them. The game went the way they wanted it to.’