A Red face for Suarez

The Reds boss admitted the Uruguay international could have had three before half-time, on one occasion rounding goalkeeper Alexander Kerzhakov but failing to find the net.

His misses, which also included a cheeky backheel from close range he put wide, kept Zenit in the game and with 20 minutes to go Hulk, from 30 yards, and Sergei Semak gave the hosts a significant lead in their last-32 tie.

Errors

"He could have had a hat-trick by half-time," Rodgers said.

"It just wasn't his night but he's been brilliant for us all season.

"The important thing is that after his first one-on-one, he kept going and was still in there."

Rodgers bemoaned the defensive errors which cost his side for the second time in four days after Monday's late slip-up at home to West Brom.

"Going into the last 20-25 minutes I was thinking we could win the game but we gave away two poor goals," he added.

"The first one is a terrific strike but we are disappointed with the build-up and we could have defended it better.

"We ended up losing the game when we probably should have won the game. In six months, 12 months' time we won't be making those mistakes.

"This is a group that is growing and this is part of our growing pains.

"We have put in some terrific performances this season and not always got results but we have to be more clinical and that is something over the course of the coming months which will have to take place."

Struggle

Liverpool face an uphill struggle at Anfield next Thursday to keep their European campaign alive but Rodgers is not giving up just yet.

"There is no way the tie is over, not by a long shot. We are more than capable of getting the goals back," he said.

"I think the next goal is vitally important for us and what gives us hope is we created enough to win the game.

"If we get it early it can create the momentum for us. At 2-0 (down) you can retrieve something and it gives us a fighting chance."

Jamie Carragher also insists Liverpool can turnaround the deficit but admits they have "a mountain to climb".

"It was frustrating because up until they scored it had probably been a perfect European night in the way we dealt with the onslaught in the first half and creating a few chances," he said.

"Second half we looked in control but that's European football, we had a few experienced lads and some young lads and you have to learn but you have to learn quickly - especially at this level. That is a typical European night because you think you are in control and - bang - you are 2-0 down with a mountain to climb.

"But it is a mountain the club have climbed in the past and we have to look to do again in a week's time.

"It was a disappointing night but we have a week to dust ourselves down and try to come back and if we could do it it would be a great European night."