Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has called on his side to lessen the blow of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages by winning the Europa League.
The Reds' disappointing European campaign hit its lowest point tonight in Budapest, despite Rafael Benitez's side winning their own Group E encounter 1-0 against Debrecen.
Striker David Ngog, again lining up in place of the injured Fernando Torres, scored the Liverpool winner but it was Fiorentina's victory by the same margin against Lyon which ensured the Reds would be consigned to Europe's second competition.
Now Gerrard wants to lift the Europa League trophy to make up for his disappointment.
"Of course it's disappointing, we played fantastically well tonight and despite getting three points we don't progress," he told Sky Sports 2.
"Hopefully now we'll be in the Europa League so we'll try to win that.
"The main prize has gone and to be playing in the Europa League is disappointing but we have to accept that, move on and try to win that competition.
"The only consolation in this is if we go on and win the secondary one."
Striker David Ngog, again lining up in place of the injured Fernando Torres, scored the Liverpool winner but it was Fiorentina's victory by the same margin against Lyon which ensured the Reds would be consigned to Europe's second competition.
Now Gerrard wants to lift the Europa League trophy to make up for his disappointment.
"Of course it's disappointing, we played fantastically well tonight and despite getting three points we don't progress," he told Sky Sports 2.
"Hopefully now we'll be in the Europa League so we'll try to win that.
"The main prize has gone and to be playing in the Europa League is disappointing but we have to accept that, move on and try to win that competition.
"The only consolation in this is if we go on and win the secondary one."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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