Brendan Rodgers makes no excuses for Europa League exit [divider]
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has underlined that he has no excuses for the Reds Europa League Round of 32 exit.
The tie ended 1-1 on aggregate which forced extra time and penalties. Beşiktaş beat Liverpool 5-4 in the shoot out to progress to the Last 16.
Liverpool had a number of missing players in midfield including Steven Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson and Coutinho.
Rodgers did however, have star players like Sturridge, Sterling and Balotelli all available.
“But it’s no excuse. There were a lot of young players getting great experience with other players who are creative players. We played with two strikers, so it was an attacking line-up,” Rodgers was quoted as saying on the official Liverpool website.
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Rodgers was disappointed with his sides attacking display and thought Liverpool could have created more chances.
“And once Besiktas got the goal, we started to have more of the ball again, but we didn’t create so much,” he added.
“But I didn’t think Besiktas created so much either. It was always a tight game, but we just failed to finish the opportunities that we had in the first half.”
Beşiktaş were also missing key players including first choice centre back Ersan Gülüm, left-back Ramon Motta and goalkeeper Tolga Zengin going into the second leg.
The Black Eagles will now face Club Brugge in the Europa League Last 16.
