• Premier League

Agger laments Liverpool's FA Cup final effort

ESPN staff
May 7, 2012
Daniel Agger feels Liverpool only have themselves to blame © Getty Images
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Daniel Agger has admitted Liverpool "didn't show up" for the first hour of their FA Cup final loss to Chelsea, but is convinced the club can challenge for top honours next season.

A season that promised much when the Reds scooped the Carling Cup ended in disappointment, as their league form nosedived and they were beaten by Chelsea at Wembley.

Chelsea had to hang on to claim victory, as Andy Carroll climbed off the bench to spark a revival but Agger felt the damage was done earlier in the game.

"It is so difficult to talk about now," Agger told the club's official website. "I really don't know why we played as we did for the first 60 minutes. But we didn't turn up and you cannot afford to do that in an FA Cup final.

"We know these opportunities do not come along that often and that is why you have to take them when they do.

"This will haunt us. We didn't show up for the first hour and that is not good enough in an FA Cup final.

"When Andy came on he did well and we played in a different way. The reason why we lost was that we didn't play well in the first hour. We didn't lose because Chelsea played well but I think because we started the game really badly. We can only blame ourselves.

"There's not much more to say right now. We are all just so disappointed."

Looking ahead to next term, Agger said: "Can we challenge the top teams next season? Yes, of course. We have moved forward a lot this season but right now the only feelings are of disappointment."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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