Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admitted that his team had never looked capable of getting a result at Hull City after a 1-0 defeat all but killed the club's faint hopes of reaching the Champions League.
"We did not look like scoring really to be honest," admitted Rodgers. "There were some good moments and we had enough of the ball but never threatened the goal as we would have liked."
Hull captain Michael Dawson's first-half goal took the spoils for City, after Mario Balotelli, who suffered another poor night in a red shirt, had played him onside.
"In that moment, we didn't defend it well enough," said Rodgers, who also suggested that his team had suffered from a lack of quality in attack, where Balotelli played as a central striker until being withdrawn in the 65th minute with a foot injury.
"It is having that reference at the top end of the field that gives the other players the confidence and movement to create opportunities," said Rodgers. "Mario is doing his best."
"Our struggles tonight were what they've been for the big part of the season in terms of that creativity and scoring goals," he continued, again lamenting the double loss of Luis Suarez, sold last summer to Barcelona, and Daniel Sturridge, who's likely out for the rest of the season after already missing much of it with injury.
"Every season we have to look to try to improve," said Rodgers. "But we can't hide away from the fact you've lost over 50 goals. Any team who loses that is going to struggle.
"With Suarez and Sturridge [in the team last season] we still weren't tipped for the top four, we were still written off, and having not got them the challenge is greater for us."
Liverpool's defeat leaves Manchester United, despite losing their last two matches, needing just four points from four matches to make next season's Champions League. Rodgers' team have meanwhile won just one match in seven after previously going 13 without defeat.
"We wanted to be in that top four but that was always going to be difficult for us with the way the season mapped itself out with injuries," said Rodgers. "We are fighting for a great club and are looking for momentum to take into next season."
"We were playing catch up for lots of the season and got ourselves in a great position. We lost a couple of big games which did hurt our confidence a bit. That is the challenge for me for next year.
"It is building the team that can get through the rough waters as well that will be critical for us. In times of the season when it is tough we have to get through that."