Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says a top four finish was always going to be difficult this season.
Defeat against Hull City on Tuesday night means the Reds can only aim for a Europa League finish but the Northern Irishman insists that his players fought and worked extremely hard to get a positive result from the KC Stadium.
"We're disappointed with the goal we conceded," Rodgers said at the end of the game.
"We didn't have too many opportunities against us, but in that moment we didn't defend well enough.
"We had enough of the game and between the boxes we were okay, but where it counts in that final third we just couldn't make the breakthrough.
"The players put great energy into the game, they worked very hard but our struggles tonight were what they have been for a big part of the season in terms of creativity and scoring goals.
"Of course, we wanted to be in that top four, but it was always going to be very, very difficult for us with how the season mapped itself out with the squad, injuries and whatnot.
"We can't take away we're fighting for a great club and we're looking now to get the pace and momentum we can take through into next season.
"Tonight, you could see the players were fighting and working, there were a lot of young players still learning the game, but we never really looked like scoring a goal, to be honest."
