Boss: Run has filled Reds with confidence
Despite suffering late heartbreak at the hands of Chelsea on Tuesday night, Brendan Rodgers believes his Liverpool players can take pride in their performances over two semi-final legs against the Blues.
It took three-and-a-half hours of frenetic football, first at Anfield and then at Stamford Bridge, to separate the Reds from Jose Mourinho's men in the final four of the Capital One Cup.
An Eden Hazard penalty early on in the first leg prompted a backlash from Liverpool, in which the Kop was besieged and Rodgers' players swarmed goalwards in search of an equaliser.
Raheem Sterling's solo surge supplied a leveller and ensured the return leg at the Bridge was perfectly poised.
In the capital, from the first whistle, the sides resumed where they left off, trading blows incessantly, both goalkeepers required to make stunning saves to keep the scores level.
But Liverpool were crestfallen when Branislav Ivanovic struck in the fourth minute of extra-time and the Reds were subsequently unable to muster a response in order to force a penalty shootout in the tie.
"It was a very close game," Rodgers told Liverpoolfc.com in the tunnel following the final whistle. "They are a top side, with top players. Good luck to them in the final.
"But we can take a lot from this run in the competition. We got our identity back again and now we have confidence to hopefully finish the season well. I've got immense pride. The team gave everything, but we just failed to make that step to the final.
"I'm very proud. I thought that over the two games we were the better side, but that we failed to take our opportunities. We created enough.
"Our performance level was very good, but ultimately you want to win and these are games that, unfortunately, we just missed out on."