text: 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 Wembley . Liverpool captain Gerrard reacts as Tom Cleverley celebrates Aston Villa's victory on Sunday . Gerrard looks on dejected as his Liverpool career draws to an antic-climatic close at Wembley . By the time the FA Cup final rolls around next month his thoughts will already have turned to a new life in California. His manager Brendan Rodgers said after his team’s defeat that Gerrard had been excellent. Sadly, that isn’t true. Gerrard was poor throughout, unable to shift the momentum of a Liverpool performance that will rank as one of the great disappointments of the club’s recent years. If Rodgers had hoped for a display from Gerrard that would fit the rather romantic narrative of him returning to Wembley on his birthday then he was disappointed. Gerrard’s efforts fitted not the occasion but instead a Liverpool team showing that was low on energy, wit or strategy. For the latter, of course, Rodgers himself must take the blame. Gerrard was disappointing in midfield, as he has been all season, but Brendan Rodgers must take the blame . Gerrard was deployed in a number of different roles by Rodgers (right) throughout the contest . Without a trophy for the third season running and unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, this is a campaign that must now be labelled a failure. As such, Rodgers will head in to the summer under gently increasing pressure at Anfield to produce something tangible next time round. Certainly, Rodgers failed spectacularly here at Wembley and, as such, his sense of regret will mirror that of his captain. 0 . Brendan Rodgers is the first Liverpool manager since Phil Taylor in 1956-59 to not win a trophy in his first three seasons. 3 . Dejan Lovren had the joint-most shots for Liverpool in this game (three, level with Steven Gerrard). 4 . Mario Balotelli was flagged offside four times, more than any other player in the game, despite only coming on at half-time. 3 . Liverpool managed just three shots on target in the game. 12 . Liverpool have won 12 of 31 games (39 per cent) when Steven Gerrard has started this season, compared to 13 of 21 (62 per cent) when he hasn’t. 18 . Despite playing the full 90 minutes, Raheem Sterling managed just 18 passes in the match — the fewest of any player in the starting 22. Rodgers changed his formation after 20 minutes on Sunday. Villa had begun the game strongly and Liverpool couldn’t get the ball. Then, at half-time, he rolled his dice again, sending on Mario Balotelli and moving Raheem Sterling from a centre forward role that always seems so alien to him. Rodgers pointed out that he has done this before, stressed that his changes weren’t indicative of his own errant planning. It was hard to agree, though. The Irishman can be a clever coach but on Sunday he didn’t appear so. Rather he looked a little muddled, unable to turn a game that only ever looked as though it may go Liverpool’s way for the six minutes they spent in the lead following Philippe Coutinho’s first half goal. Facing a team and a young manager with a firm game plan that centred on the muscularity and threat of centre forward Christian Benteke, Rodgers seemed not to have one of his own. Missing Daniel Sturridge through injury once again, Rodgers chose to overlook his three alternatives – Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert – in favour of a front three featuring Sterling in the central role. It was a familiar look but equally it is a system that rarely appears to suit Liverpool. It asks too much of Sterling as well as taking him from the wide position from which he always looks most dangerous. When Villa had the ball and moved forwards energetically through the excellent Fabian Delph and Jack Grealish, they did so in great number, flooding the final third of the pitch with claret and blue. Liverpool, on the other hand, couldn’t replicate it, their full-backs too deep and Sterling too often drowning in a sea of Aston Villa shirts. To play without a focal point is very difficult, especially in a game where the stakes are so high. As Sturridge continues to struggle for health, Liverpool’s problems in that area – given the complete lack of faith in his supposed understudies – are very real and to solve that in the transfer market without the promise of Champions League football to use as bait will be some challenge for Liverpool’s much-discussed transfer committee. Aston Villa players chase goalscorer Fabian Delph after the England midfielder made it 2-1 . Ashley Westwood and Cleverley celebrate with Delph following his crucial FA Cup semi-final goal . Liverpool captain Gerrard sinks to his knees after seeing his side fall to a 2-1 defeat at Wembley Stadium . Rodgers is the first Liverpool manager since 1956-1959 not to win a trophy in his first three seasons . Gerrard begins to say his goodbyes as his Liverpool career edges closer to an anti-climatic end . Gerrard leaves the pitch following his side's 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Villa at Wembley . For a time at Wembley – a very short time – it looked as though Coutinho and Jordan Henderson may haul Liverpool to where they needed to be. Their goal came on the back of a short period of better play when it went in off the knee of Villa substitute Jores Okore and it seemed as though Rodgers’ players would build off that platform. But as Rodgers conceded himself afterwards, too many of his team fell short. It’ s a problem that has shown itself before in key games – namely against Chelsea at the end of last season and at home to Manchester United last month. “It looked as though the occasion got to us,” said Rodgers. “That can happen and we’ve come up short in a few games. “The focus can go awry. We were too passive.” A startling admission from a Liverpool manager, it was nevertheless hard to disagree. Villa had the edge from the get-go, they had brightness to their play, they played only with ambition and optimism. There was not a hint of fear. On the touchline in the second half, Rodgers was unable to change things. The Balotelli substitution did not work, Emre Can’s deployment at full-back gave Liverpool nothing while Lambert’s introduction in the 90th minute came so late as to be rather pointless. Belatedly there was some pressure but it lacked conviction. There was no cavalry charge and Gerrard’s late free-kick – his one chance to make an impression – was as limp as it was by then rather predictable. For Liverpool’s titan, the season’s end cannot now come quickly enough. Delph and team-mate Westwood celebrate their FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley . Rodgers shouts instructions at his players, but to no avail as Liverpool slump to defeat at Wembley . Gerrard almost snatched a dramatic equaliser with four minutes left, but his header was cleared off the line .
target: Wembley loss means Steven Gerrard's Liverpool career ends in anti-climax .
  He was poor throughout, unable to raise performances of his team-mates .
  Gerrard will now say his farewells with a series of cameo appearances .
  But, three years without a trophy means Brendan Rodgers is one to blame .