Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers accused his team of being "lazy" and warned their defending must improve after a 3-2 home defeat to Udinese.
The hosts had deservedly taken the lead in the first half of the Europa League Group A clash thanks to Jonjo Shelvey’s 23rd-minute strike, but their opponents’ captain and talisman Antonio Di Natale levelled in the opening minute of the second period, finishing a move that had started when Reds defender Glen Johnson lost possession.
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Dejected: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez during Thursday’s Europa League tie against Udinese. Pic/Getty Images
Anfield was then left stunned as Sebastian Coates’ 70th minute own-goal and Giovanni Pasquale’s finish from Di Natale’s tee-up two minutes later put the Italian side firmly in the driving seat.
Substitute Luis Suarez swiftly replied direct from a free-kick with 15 minutes to go, but it proved only a consolation.
Brendan Rodgers
Reflecting on Liverpool’s display, Rodgers said: “We are disappointed with the result because for large periods of the game we were the better side, but we have to defend better.
“It was very frustrating.u00a0“We lost our concentration at the beginning of the second half and I thought we’d moved on from that to be honest.u00a0“I thought we were just lazy - that is the easiest way to describe it. Just lazy in our play and loose and sloppy. It is as simple as that.”
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