Toure: We'll learn from it and go again
Kolo Toure believes lessons learned this season will stand Liverpool in good stead to mount another challenge for the Barclays Premier League title next term.
After an outstanding campaign, the Reds sealed a second-place finish on Sunday, just two points behind Manchester City having pushed them all the way in the race for the crown.
Toure - a two-time title winner - is convinced the experience gained will enable Brendan Rodgers' side to fight it out at the top again in 2014-15.
"There is nothing to be disappointed about," he told the Liverpool Echo. "It has been a great season for the club. Nobody expected us to be where we were. I think we did everything we could but at the end City won it. We fought right until the end.
"What was the difference? Experience. They have been winning the Premier League already and for us at the crucial time we made a few bad decisions, which is part of the game.
"We will gain experience by making those mistakes and losing the title like we did. I am sure that will give us the strength to be better next year.
"This is football. You need to have bad times to have good times after. You learn from the bad times and you improve so that when you get to those situations you make a better decision."
In finishing second, Liverpool sealed a return to the Champions League next season after a five-year absence.
Toure is optimistic the Reds' young squad will be able to cope with the demands of playing in Europe's premier competition, allied with their domestic duties.
"What we showed to everybody is that we have the quality to fight for the league," continued the Ivorian.
"We know that it is going to be a different season. We need to start everything fresh again, be humble and work hard.
"I believe we have the quality to go far in the Champions League too. It is going to be tough for sure because you need to be mentally strong playing more games, but this team have got experience now for what happened this season and I think that the manager knows what he needs to do.
"He is very clever. He reads the game very well. I am 100 per cent sure that we are going to be fine.
"We are going to play against teams who will defend like Newcastle. No-one will come and try to press Liverpool and we need to know how to cope with that. It's about being patient, passing the ball well and making the difference.
"The young players like Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan have been fantastic. Raheem didn't play at the start of the season but when he started playing he was amazing because he was working very hard.
"Flanno was the same. He worked very hard every day. This is a great group of players because everyone fights for an unbelievable captain."
Meanwhile, Toure admits he plans to speak to Rodgers this summer to see how he will fit into the manager's plans for next term.
"I will speak to the manager and we will see what will happen," he said. "I am a leader and I like to play a lot. I like to help the team from on the pitch rather than the bench. We will see.
"I have really enjoyed my time here. This is an unbelievable club. You go everywhere in the world and you see Liverpool fans.
"Every day at training there is people in front of the door of the training ground wanting you to sign. The passion is amazing."