• Europa League

Rodgers fumes at sloppy Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers was disappointed with Liverpool's second half performance © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Udinese sink Liverpool, Toon cruise, Spurs held
  

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had some harsh words after his side's lethargic performance at the start of the second half saw them defeated 3-2 by Udinese in the Europa League.

Jonjo Shelvey put the Reds in front after 23 minutes at Anfield but Rodgers diagnosed a familiar dip in intensity as the Italian side scored three times - through Antonio Di Natale, Giovanni Pasquale and a Sebastian Coates own-goal - between the 46th and 72nd minutes.

Luis Suarez raised hopes of a snatched draw with a superb free-kick but there was no equaliser in the closing stages.

"It's quite straightforward. We were very, very good in the first half and the problem we had in the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half had been with us since the start of the season," he told ITV4.

"We lose concentration and become lazy and in that period we go 3-1 down. We just concede goals too easily, that's something we need to improve on. We can't have to score three, four or five goals to win games.

"We're just disappointed after such a good first half to give away such poor goals in the second half to leave us chasing the game.''

The result leaves Liverpool third in Group A after two games, with big-spending Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala next on the horizon.

Qualification may be tough from here, but Rodgers sees other benefits to the competition.

"There are quality teams in this group," he said. "Qualification is obviously what we're looking for but it is also an opportunity to play some younger players. Some of the players from the earlier rounds have worked their way into the first team.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.