Rodgers: We weren't up to our standard
Brendan Rodgers admitted that Liverpool were 'nowhere near standard' in suffering a third loss of the season at West Ham United - but pledged to work hard on the training ground in an effort to put things right.
The Reds were overturned 3-1 at Upton Park on Saturday evening as goals from Winston Reid, Diafra Sakho and Morgan Amalfitano rendered Raheem Sterling's fine strike mere consolation on a frustrating night in the capital.
After the final whistle, the manager lamented the lack of intensity from kick-off that allowed the hosts to grab a two-goal advantage within seven minutes and explained how a response will be put into practice from tomorrow morning.
Rodgers told reporters at his post-match press conference: "We were nowhere near the standard today. We made a really slow start and before we knew it we were 2-0 down.
"Lots of elements in our game have been very good and everyone has seen that over the last couple of seasons, but it is just not quite happening for us at the moment. We have a lot of work to do and today was very disappointing in terms of performance.
"They had better intensity than us. Our performance level wasn't anywhere near what I would expect. We made too many long passes; normally our passing is shorter, crisper and faster in the game. Today we didn't show enough composure on the ball.
"But, first and foremost, I thought the intensity of our game wasn't quite at the level. But that's something that we will look at. I'm very fortunate that I've got an honest group of players that know that sort of level isn't what we expect. We will, over the course of the season, get better and better."
The Hammers took an advantage with barely two minutes on the clock as a dangerous set-piece by former Reds winger Stewart Downing caused problems and Reid capitalised to force over the line from close range.
Asked whether he was frustrated by his team's defending in such scenarios, Rodgers concurred. However, the Northern Irishman felt his charges had enough time to turn the result around.
"It was very disappointing," he said. "There's definitely work [to do]. If you do it over a number of games, it's certainly something we need to look at. It was never a problem for us last season.
"In the Aston Villa game, we probably brought the issues on ourselves. It's important you stay calm in those situations. I'm not sure whether the second goal was a cross or a shot, but whatever way, it came from a cross and we needed to defend better.
"It all came from the intensity of our start. Today, our performance level wasn't what we'd expect and normally the consequence of that is a disappointing result - and that's how it was today.
"When it went to 2-1, we had enough time and gained a bit of our composure again. I felt I had to change the system in order to give us a new dimension in the game. Raheem scored a fantastic goal and up until probably when they got the third goal at the end - when we were risking the game and making mistakes - we weren't in too much threat.
"We had enough time to get back into it; but just the little bit of luck we needed, the final ball and final finish just wasn't there for us."
The relentless nature of the fixture list leaves Liverpool with little time to dwell on their disappointment, with Middlesbrough the visitors for a home Capital One Cup tie on Tuesday before the Merseyside derby next Saturday.
Rodgers' aim is to regenerate the level of performance on display when his side put Tottenham Hotspur to the sword at the end of last month with a stylish 3-0 victory.
"We've got a massive game in the cup in the week and then an even bigger game next week when we play the derby," added the boss.
"We need to refocus now and look to get back to winning again. We have lost three out of our five games, so we need to be much better. We showed the potential in our team in the Tottenham game and we need to look to get back to that level as quickly as we can.
"We showed our potential in the Tottenham game, when we had players fit and key players that have been with us for a couple of seasons. We showed in that game the real quality and intensity of the team. When those guys aren't available, it can hurt us.
"But we still should be better than what we were today. So there's no doubt we need to go back onto the training ground and continue to work.
"We have set a new expectancy at the club that we have to deal with now - we have got lots of games. Liverpool as a football club is always a club that people want to beat, but certainly now in particular. But we have to deal with that and that is something that we will do."