Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard offered up a savagely honest assessment of his side's disappointing efforts as they went down to a 1-0 Champions League defeat against Basel in Switzerland.
Gerrard did not hold back as he provided a cutting appraisal of his side's display at the St Jakob Stadium, which leaves qualification from Group B in the balance ahead of a back-to-back with Real Madrid.
"We didn't deserve anything out of this game," he told Sky Sports. "I thought we were too soft all over the pitch and I though they wanted it more, which is very disappointing. It hurts [to say that], but it's true.
"I thought we were second best at times against an OK team. I wouldn't say we were played off the park, but we made it easy for them. We wanted something out of this game, at least a draw. I came here expecting us to win, so it's very disappointing.
"Conceding again from a set-piece isn't good enough, so we have to get it right. You are not going to win football matches if you keep conceding from set-pieces.
"We will discuss it and analyse it like we always do. There were signs against Everton [last Saturday] that we are getting back to where we want to be. We were aggressive without the ball against Everton, but we went back to where we have been for most of the season today which is not good enough."
Gerrard's comments are certain to reverberate around the Liverpool dressing room and his manager Rodgers offered up similar sentiments, albeit with a little less brutality.
"We created good openings in the game and had enough chances to get something, but we defended very, very poorly from the corner [that led to the Basel winner] and it's not the first time," said Rodgers.
"It's very, very disappointing not to get something from the game and that the game is decided by a poor defensive corner. This is something we continue to look at, to analyse and to work on, but you have to deal with it on the field.
"The key to defending is you have to win your first contact on the ball and we don't do that enough. Eventually they get their goal.
"They are a good side, they have some good players and open up the pitch well. It was a disappointing night for us."
Rodgers went on to suggest striker Mario Balotelli needs to do more to impress him following his move from AC Milan, but he defended teenager Raheem Sterling after an off-night for the Liverpool winger.
"He is learning all the time, he is a young player and worked very hard tonight," added Rodgers of Sterling. "He got into some good positions, was just offside for a goal in the first half. He is still only 19 and he is an exceptional talent.
"[Mario Balotelli] worked hard, but he needs to do more. It's as simple as that. Mario will be judged on what he creates and scores. He didn't score, but the boy is working hard."