Rodgers on Arsenal, Raheem and run-in

After an opening that had seen each team dominate for a period at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners struck three times in eight minutes to assume overall command of the contest.

Efforts from Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez handed Rodgers' charges a mountain to climb against an outfit with a strong record at their own ground this season.

A Jordan Henderson penalty with 14 minutes remaining reduced the arrears, but Emre Can's dismissal and a stoppage-time Olivier Giroud strike ensured it was an afternoon of disappointment.

"We started the game slowly, right from kick-off," the manager explained in assessing the result at his post-match press conference.

"We're normally very positive from the first kick of the game, but we played backwards, and from there we made a couple of loose passes and for the next 10 minutes we were on the back foot.

"But we grew into the game then and started to connect the game better on the field; we should have gone in front, we had two great chances to take the lead.

"If you can get 1-0 in front, especially when you're playing well, you can hopefully dominate the space as well as the ball. But we didn't manage to do that and then we had the crazy period just before half-time.

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"If you look at our last six or seven games away from home, we have defended very well and kept clean sheets, but we defended very poorly in that period and before you know it you're 3-0 down.

"In the second half you're playing for pride and the players did that and were much better in the second half."

Martin Skrtel was unavailable to feature in north London due to suspension, though Rodgers stressed that it was a failure in approach, not personnel, which proved costly.

He said: "Martin has been a key player for us, he has been outstanding and been ever present in the last couple of seasons for us.

"But we as a team can still defend better; it was too easy once the young full-back [Bellerin] made it into the box [for the first goal]. We have got to defend much better."

Absent from the matchday squad through injury was Mario Balotelli, who did not travel to the capital after suffering a knock in training ahead of the game.

"He trained yesterday afternoon with the team and took a slight knock to his knee," said Rodgers. "He deemed it that he was not able to travel with the team.

"He felt it was too sore to travel. The medical staff have looked at it. It was something that he himself didn't feel comfortable with to travel."

Three changes to the boss' starting line-up involved a switch back to centre-forward for Raheem Sterling, who drew the foul that earned Liverpool a second-half spot-kick.

Reporters gathered inside the Emirates Stadium quizzed Rodgers on how he felt the No.31 had responded to speculation surrounding his future earlier in the week.

He replied: "There was no change in him. I thought he was excellent today and our best player. He was aggressive in his running, pressed the ball well, won the penalty and was very direct and strong.

"I thought he was excellent. He works hard every single day and you saw today that he just wants to play his football. He gives me everything every time he trains and plays."

The Northern Irishman accepted that the result means it is unlikely that the Reds can close the gap to the Champions League qualification places in the matches that remain.

One question during the press conference called for Rodgers to consider, in light of that scenario, what positives can be taken from the campaign as it nears a conclusion.

"The summer was very difficult with losing Luis [Suarez] and Daniel [Sturridge] being injured from the beginning of the season, and then a whole integration of new players," he said.

"It was like starting again - it was like my first six months after coming in. The reaction to the period after the Crystal Palace game has been really positive.

"Up until that point, in terms of performance level, we were nowhere near what we'd set for about 18 months [before]. The reaction and commitment of the players has been first-class since then.

"Up until the Manchester United game, we were the form team and playing very, very well. We've been dealt two big blows in these last two games.

"We haven't performed as we would have liked and that has cost us in terms of the results. I very much doubt we'll be in the top four now come the end of the season, there's too much ground to make up - that's the realistic view for me.

"Now we must really focus on the FA Cup and that's going to be very, very important for us.

"Overall, there's been a lot of learning taken place this year, both in terms of myself and all the competitions we've been in so far, young players have improved and got better as the season has gone on.

"Now we'll try to finish the season as strongly as we possibly can and take all of this going into next season, when we'll have to make a really bright start in the opening eight games."