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Brendan Rodgers admits Liverpool are lacking both leaders and quality – and believes supporters are right to be frustrated after a difficult season.

The Reds failed to give departing skipper Steven Gerrard a winning Anfield send-off after slumping to a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

It was a further example of Rodgers’ players being unable to rise to the occasion after recent high-profile shockers against Manchester United, Arsenal and in the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.

Gerrard is the third influential Liverpool player to leave the club in successive years following Jamie Carragher and Luis Suarez.

And Rodgers accepts there has become a void in terms of leadership within the squad.

“That’s what we have to find – the answers to that,” said the Reds boss.

“You have to find the solutions. It is an incredible lot of experience, game management and quality gone out of the team but it is something we will find I am sure.

“Stevie has a huge influence in the changing room and a star quality. Of course it is something that will be missed, but if you want to be the big player at a club like this you have to step up and make the contribution in the big games.

“That is the idea next season. I am sure that will be the case.

“We have players with good character and if we can throw in some quality with that it is important.

“We need threat at the top end of the field because too many have disappeared for us, you only need to look at the number of goals.

“We have to find ways to get those goals back, the creativity and offensive threat while staying disciplined in our defending.”

There were murmurs of laughter when, during his post-match interview on the field, Gerrard was asked whether he was positive over Liverpool’s future following his departure.

And Rodgers said: “Listen, I can understand the supporters’ frustration this season when you think of the journey we were on last year.

“The quality of the football and the game they were watching has not been there this season.

“As a supporter you want to turn up and see the team win and win well and at times that has not been the case.

“It is a big challenge for us so from a manager’s perspective there is a sense of reality in what we lost but rightly so the supporters want to see the team improving.

“That’s our job in the summer to replace and find the players who will make the difference.”

Of the difficulties for the next player to take on Gerrard’s iconic number eight jersey, Rodgers added: “There are lot of those (famous shirts) here. It’s like the number seven, the number nine. We’ve had iconic players throughout the history of the club.

“He has worn it for many years with great esteem but we have to plot away to improve collectively next season.”

Rodgers, though, dismissed suggestion Liverpool’s players had been affected by Gerrard’s Anfield farewell and instead pointed the finger at poor defending, with the Reds shipping at least three goals in a Premier League game for the sixth time this season.

“I did not feel it was the sense of occasion,” said the Reds boss. “I thought the first half we started reasonably well and then got the goal but we defended very poorly at certain moments of the game.

“Whether that is experience or not we have to be better in those moments.

“In the second half we gave away poor goals and looked edgy at the back. We did not look solid or strong.

“Of course it was a commemoration for Stevie but first and foremost we wanted to win the game and we’re disappointed we didn’t.”