Jonjo Shelvey put the Reds in front after 23 mintues at Anfield, but Rodgers diagnosed a familiar dip in intensity as the Italian side scored three times –through Antonio Di Natale, Giovanni Pasquale and a Sebastian Coates own-goal – between the 46th and 72nd minutes.

Luis Suarez raised hopes of a snatched draw with a superb free-kick but there was no equaliser at the death.

Rodgers said: "It's quite straightforward. We were very, very good in the first half and the problem we had in the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half had been with us since the start of the season.

"We lose concentrat-ion and become lazy and in that period we go 3-1 down. We just concede goals too easily, that's something we need to improve on. We can't have to score three, four or five goals to win games."

"We're just disappointed after such a good first half to give away such poor goals in the second half to leave us chasing the game."

The result leaves Liverpool third in Group A after two games, with big-spending Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala next on the horizon.

Qualification may be tough from here, but Rodgers sees other benefits to the competition.

"There are quality teams in this group. Qualification is obviously what we're looking for, but it is also an opportunity to play some younger players.

"Some of the players from the earlier rounds have worked their way into the first team."