Definition: In this task, you will be presented with a passage and have to answer a question based on your understanding of the events inferred from the passage. Try to find the best answer that is most likely to fill in "_". Note that the URLs in the text have been replaced with [Link].
Input: Early in the build-up to Aston Villa’s winning goal on Sunday, Steven Gerrard challenged for successive headers in the centre circle and lost both. That doesn’t mean he was at fault for what happened in the subsequent 20 seconds but it was illustrative nevertheless of a long, sapping afternoon for Liverpool and their fading captain. Gerrard’s time at Liverpool will now end in anti-climax. The chances are that he will say his farewells via a series of short cameos, many of them as a substitute. Steven Gerrard was denied the chance of a happy ending as Aston Villa beat Liverpool at WembleyWembley loss means Steven Gerrard's Liverpool career ends in anti-climaxHe was poor throughout, unable to raise performances of his team-matesGerrard will now say his farewells with a series of cameo appearancesBut, three years without a trophy means Brendan Rodgers is one to blame 
 Question:His manager Brendan Rodgers said after his team’s defeat that _ had been excellent.

Steven Gerrard