Rodgers on Steven, Palace and summer

The Reds captain made his final Anfield appearance on Saturday evening, 17 years on from the first, ahead of a transfer to LA Galaxy and move to the United States this summer.

Emotions were in evidence at every turn, with special mosaics and banners, rousing songs and endless applause from the supporters sending the No.8 off in necessary style.

Rodgers' side could not produce the fairytale result for Gerrard, however, despite taking a lead in the first half courtesy of Adam Lallana's high pressing and composed finishing.

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A searing free-kick by Jason Puncheon levelled, before strikes after the interval from Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray consigned Liverpool to a loss in their final home game this season.

The boss said: "Steven got a wonderful send-off and gave everything right to the very end. He was the one that was driving forward in the game to try to get us the goals.

"The support he got was absolutely brilliant and probably what he would expect, having been a wonderful player here and given his all for the club.

"In terms of that, it was fantastic for him and his family, and a special day for him.

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"In terms of the result and the performance, it was disappointing. We started reasonably well and scored a fantastic goal with Adam, but we made poor defensive errors across the field today.

"That punished us at the end of the first half and in the second half. We didn't defend well enough; their attacking players caused us a problem and we didn't cope with that.

"Overall, the second half was a disappointing performance."

Rodgers continued: "For the first goal, the player should never get anywhere near that area of the field. They cleared a ball up the line and we didn't defend the moment well enough.

"I thought our decision-making defensively wasn't very good today. In fairness to him, he sticks the ball in - it was a wonderful free-kick.

"But we're disappointed with how he arrived there; we saw Puncheon score with a set-piece last week, he's very good in those moments.

"The second one was arguably offside, when he makes contact with the ball there are two players offside. I would look at it from a coaching perspective that before the ball is even played, we didn't defend well on that side of the field.

"The third one was clearly and disappointingly outside the box. So those two goals we were probably very unfortunate on, in terms of the second one and the penalty.

"But it doesn't take away that we could have been better in defensive moments in the game."

Once next weekend's campaign finale at Stoke City has concluded, Rodgers must begin to plan for a future which will not involve the talismanic Gerrard.

The Northern Irishman again admitted that the midfielder is irreplaceable as an individual but promised that the tasks ahead will be tackled with determination.

"He's a player and person that is irreplaceable for the club," said the manager. "What he has given over his time here and the standards that he has set are second-to-none.

"We'll go forward at the end of the season, once next week has finished, and we'll have to plot a way to improve come the summer - and that's our challenge.

"In my time here we have lost a couple of players that have both played 700-odd games for the club in Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

"Those two guys have been monumental players for the club, so losing both of those of course is a big blow. You throw in a world-class player in Luis Suarez in that then of course it's difficult.

"But we'll rise to the challenge; that's the challenge that we have in the summer, to look to improve and develop. This year has obviously been a very difficult year for us in many aspects.

"But the players have fought and given everything that they possibly can. Hopefully in the summer we can add that quality that the group clearly needs and look to take the opportunity next year."

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