Rodgers: It was staggering
Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool created enough opportunities to win 'two or three' matches after they were frustrated by a 'staggering' goalkeeping performance in a 0-0 draw with Reading on Saturday.
The Reds created a whole host of opportunities, but were thwarted by an exceptional display from Royals' custodian Alex McCarthy - a man playing his first competitive football since November.
Rodgers told his post-match press conference: "I don't think our players could have done any more. Some of our interchange and creativity today was outstanding.
"Some days you say you have days like that when the 'keeper makes one or two good saves, but we had 14 shots on target today away from home.
"I know young Alex very well - he's genuinely going to be a top, top 'keeper. To perform like that having been out for so long - it was an absolutely staggering performance.
"We're frustrated, of course, Some of our play was very, very good. We had to defend counter-attacks a couple of times, which is natural when you have the ball and you're on the front foot. We mustn't forget Pepe Reina made a great save as well [from Noel Hunt]."
McCarthy pulled off a string of fine saves to thwart the likes of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard.
On the two occasions he was beaten, Suarez's goal-bound chip was headed off the line by Chris Gunter while Coutinho had an effort chalked off for offside.
Rodgers continued: "We're one of the top goalscorers in the league. This season, some of our performances have been very good, but what we've got to do next season is make sure we turn the performances into points. That's the key thing.
"We created enough opportunities to win two or three games today. You give credit to the Reading boys because they defended well when they had to, at times putting their bodies on the line.
"It was a real, real difficult game for them but for us, we'd expect to win the game."
The result leaves Liverpool seventh in the Barclays Premier League table, though they are eight points off fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur having played a game more.
"It's a point moving forward - but it should have been three," said Rodgers. "Our aim going into the last games of the season was to finish as high as we possibly could.
"We didn't make a great start, but since the opening 13/14 games we've really pushed on.
"We're disappointed not to have picked up three points last week and this week, but it's a process and what I am seeing all the time is the hunger, spirit and determination of the team.
"Today was a real, creative performance and we had good opportunities, but it just wasn't to be and you've got to give young Alex an incredible amount of credit.
"We just have to lick our wounds and move on."
Despite drawing their last two games 0-0, Rodgers has no concerns over Liverpool's firepower in front of goal and insists his side will learn from the stalemates with West Ham and Reading.
He explained: "You always try to find solutions to break down the opponent - but I don't think anything today was about breaking down the opponent. I think we did that but we came up against a 'keeper who was inspired.
"We can have no complaints this year because we've scored many goals, but in the last two games we just haven't been able to find a way through, which happens.
"But we've kept another clean sheet as well - that's 13 which is one of the best in the league.
"These are marginal games that we'll take on and take forward, but going forward we'll have to finish off games like that."
Meanwhile, local journalists quizzed Rodgers on whether he felt 23-year-old McCarthy had the potential to represent England.
The former Reading boss replied: "Yes, absolutely. There's no question. He'll have a hard job because Joe Hart is one of the top five goalkeepers in world football, so it'll be difficult for him. But there's no doubt he's a top talent.
"I remember him when I was here as the manager, but I was aware of him before that. He came in later on when he was in his teens and he was always the talent.
"Reading have always produced very good goalkeepers, so he was down the pecking order at the time I was here and out on loan.
"But he's got all the qualities to be a top, top 'keeper. It was a great performance by him."