Brendan Rodgers: Lack of Intensity and Speed Cost Liverpool Three Points Against Aston Villa

Brendan Rodgers claims Liverpool's lack of pace against Aston Villa saw them suffer a 1-0 defeat in the latest league fixture at Anfield on Saturday.

Gabriel Agbonlahor netted the only goal of the match for Paul Lambert's side in the ninth minute of the match from a corner kick. The Reds were without the services of several first team players due to injuries.

Daniel Sturridge, Martin Skrtel, Emre Can, Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan are on the treatment table. In addition to this, Raheem Sterling started the match from the bench.

Adam Lallana made his full debut against Villa, while Mario Balotelli played his first match in front of the home fans. The two failed to create any impact on Saturday and the former Swansea City manager stressed that Liverpool lacked quality in the final ball.

"As a team we probably didn't quite have the intensity in our game and the speed in our game," Rodgers told Liverpool's official website.

"When they get a goal and go 1-0 up, you've got to get around the sides and switch the play a bit quicker. We were just unable to do that."

"Everything was centralised when they were very compact centrally. The second half was much better in terms of domination and getting the ball into wide areas."

"But apart from Coutinho hitting the post, we never really created anywhere near what we normally would do. We started slowly and gave away a poor goal. We picked up the tempo after that."

"The players gave everything but we just lacked that bit of quality in the final ball and you've got to give Aston Villa credit."

"They defended well once they got the goal, kept their lines tight and defended with a low block. We just couldn't get the final pass - it was really frustrating for us. They defended well; the back four and midfield five were in, and with Agbonlahor on the counter-attack they are always a threat."

"We just started slowly in the game and it's unlike us really because normally we start very quickly. In the two games here, we haven't quite started as fast."

"We have found a problem with Aston Villa in my time here. We have won away from home but again today the bit of quality in the final third let us down," the Liverpool manager concluded.

The result against Villa is the Anfield club's second league defeat in four matches. Liverpool face Ludogorets in their first Champions League fixture on Tuesday evening. Rodgers will be hoping his side can bounce back with a victory over the Bulgarian outfit.