Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool will recover from their Capital One Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United by turning their focus on attempting to embark on another strong run in the Barclays Premier League.

Javier Hernandez's goal seconds after the restart proved the difference at Old Trafford as the home side secured a 1-0 win in the third-round tie.

Rodgers felt his charges enjoyed some good moments in the contest and admitted he could not fault the efforts of the visitors.

He told his post-match press conference: "I thought we had good spells in the game where we got into real good areas and probably just the final pass let us down tonight and that final finish, but I've no qualms about the players' effort. I thought they were brilliant in everything they gave to the game.

"We're disappointed with the lack of concentration for the goal and it cost us."

Elimination from the Capital One Cup followed on from a draw at Swansea City and last weekend's Anfield loss to Southampton.

However, Rodgers remained unwavering in his confidence his players will soon be back to winning ways.

He said: "The players have made an excellent start. We were disappointed at the weekend, we were a bit flat and subdued, and just couldn't really get going. Part of that was because of the players we have available, but I know that the players I have give absolutely everything.

"Now we can only concentrate on the league through to Christmas. We have to make sure we stay up in the top six in the league and keep fighting. Hopefully we can reinforce again in January."

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Liverpool were able to select Luis Suarez for the first time this season after the striker completed his suspension, and he began in attack.

Rodgers was pleased with the Uruguayan's performance and tipped him to go from strength-to-strength as his match fitness increases with more game time.

"I thought he was excellent," said the boss. "When you consider he's been out for such a long time, he ran himself into the ground and he was always a threat. He put defenders on the back foot and had a couple of twists and turns that looked like he was going to get in.

"As he goes on, he'll get a wee bit sharper. Overall, he can be really pleased. I was really happy for him because his contribution was brilliant."

Suarez played the entire 90 minutes at Old Trafford and journalists quizzed Rodgers on whether he'd intended for the returning No.7 to complete the whole game.

He replied: "We just assessed it. Sometimes you can plan these things. He's worked very hard and tired a wee bit towards the end, but the only way he is going to get that [full match fitness] is by playing in the games.

"He's a player that even in the last moments of a game, he can still create moments, distract defenders and provoke the space to open up.

"It's also what we have as well. The team had a good flow in the second half, we were getting numbers forward and we just couldn't find that final touch or pass that could get a goal."

Rodgers added: "The fans were brilliant. You heard them at the beginning. The support they've given him is unheralded, really. It's such a unique club where they support the players that wear the shirt and they were brilliant to him."

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Liverpool deployed a 3-5-2 system at Old Trafford, with Jordan Henderson and Jose Enrique operating as wing-backs to complement a three-man central defence consisting of Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho.

"It is probably something that has been forced upon us really, in terms of the players we have available," Rodgers explained.

"In the game at the weekend [against Southampton], I've never in my life ever played four centre-halves in any game. Anybody who knows me and knows my work, knows that's not how I would operate. But when you have no choice that's what you've got to do.

"I try to always get as many attackers on the field as I can. I just felt that was a system that suited the players that we have and I thought the players played the system very well - we got numbers forward.

"If we had to play that system again for a period of time until players are fit then, we obviously need to work more on it but it's something that you can see the players are comfortable in.

"It gives us three players to dominate midfield, gives us the two strikers up front that are arguably up there with the top strikers in the league, and it still keeps us secure at the back. If we need to play it again, I think we can play it well."