Gerrard hits out after Cup shock
Print Edition
Steven Gerrard has accused his Liverpool teammates of letting nerves affect them in their lackluster FA Cup semi-final defeat against Aston Villa.
Brendan Rodgers鈥 side was well below its best at Wembley on Sunday as Villa recovered from Philippe Coutinho鈥檚 opener to book its place in the final thanks to goals from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph.
Reds captain Gerrard, who is due to join LA Galaxy in the close-season, had been hoping for a victory that would have set up the prospect of a fairytale farewell in the final on his 35th birthday next month. But that dream was shattered by Liverpool鈥檚 lethargic effort and Gerrard admitted he was disappointed with the way the team seemed to shrink on the big stage.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 play, we looked very nervous for some reason,鈥 Gerrard told talkSPORT. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a team that鈥檚 built on passing and playing it quickly but we were very disappointing in that aspect and they were much better than us.
鈥淲e were very disappointing. I thought Aston Villa were much better than us and that鈥檚 the overriding feeling.鈥
With Liverpool鈥檚 last hope of winning silverware this season dashed, Gerrard will now focus on trying to lift his side into the Premier League鈥檚 top four to secure a place in the Champions League. That won鈥檛 be easy with Liverpool sitting seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, albeit with a game in hand.
But, given the underwhelming nature of Gerrard鈥檚 own performance at Wembley, a tepid effort which suggested Rodgers has been right to start phasing out the ageing former England star, it is far from certain he will retain his place for Liverpool鈥檚 final six matches.
Rodgers鈥 own position will come under increasing scrutiny if Liverpool fails to qualify for the Champions League just 12 months after coming within a whisker of winning the English title.
While Rodgers has been hampered by the recurring injury problems of star striker Daniel Sturridge, he didn鈥檛 help himself by settling for Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert as his replacements for Luis Suarez after the Uruguay forward was sold to Barcelona last year.
Rodgers claims he needs time for his squad to gel, but he is unlikely to be given much longer to get it right.
He is the first Liverpool boss since Phil Taylor in the 1950s to go three years without winning a trophy.
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