Steven Gerrard's FA Cup Performance vs. Aston Villa Typified Liverpool's Display

WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON — Liverpool lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon as Brendan Rodgers' side dropped another big game.

Liverpool took the lead through Philippe Coutinho's goal on the half hour, but Villa equalised minutes later when in-form Christian Benteke side-footed past Simon Mignolet.

The winning goal arrived nine minutes after half-time when Villa captain Fabian Delph jinxed past Dejan Lovren to finish from close range.

Tim Sherwood's side will meet Arsenal in the final, thus ending the chances of Steven Gerrard having a fairytale send-off of lifting the Cup on his 35th birthday and final game for the club.

The long-serving Liverpool captain returned to the starting XI after missing the last three games due to suspension after his dismissal against Manchester United, but his performance typified Liverpool's problems on the day.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

The defeat was not Gerrard's fault, but to claim he was excellent is plain wrong. He epitomised Liverpool's problems against Villa: off the pace, consistently changing position and failing to find any rhythm.

Gerrard began the game in an advanced role, alongside Coutinho and behind Raheem Sterling, who started up front in the continued absence of Daniel Sturridge.

Liverpool began the game in a 3-4-2-1 formation, but Rodgers changed the shape of the side after 25 minutes, moving to 4-2-3-1, with Gerrard in the No. 10 role behind Sterling. It worked, briefly, with Coutinho's goal arriving shortly after.

But half-time saw yet another change, the third formation so far, with Mario Balotelli introduced up front and Liverpool moving to 4-3-3. Gerrard was the deepest midfielder—the role he occupied in the second half of last season but struggled with earlier this season.

Within minutes of the second half starting, Villa had exploited Gerrard's space and youngster Jack Grealish was almost in on goal. 

"

I like how Grealish just ran into acres of space where Gerrard was supposed to be because Gerrard decided to wander out to the left.

— oh you beauty (@natefc) April 19, 2015"

Villa exposed Gerrard's lack of pace and consistently found space in front of Liverpool's back four. In the 54th minute, Delph ran past Gerrard and Grealish found his captain inside the box, who turned Lovren and finished past Mignolet while Gerrard watched on.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

The last time Gerrard played the deep-lying playmaker role was the miserable 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace in November. Woefully exposed at Selhurst Park, it was following that game that Rodgers abandoned the use of Gerrard at the base of the midfield. Instead, the captain was used in an advanced midfield role and less often.

Indeed, with Liverpool sporting Gerrard in such a role, Balotelli as the lone centre-forward and Lovren and Martin Skrtel alongside each other in a back four, you could be forgiven for thinking time had turned back to those miserable autumn months for the Reds, as football writer Dan Kennett tweeted:

"

All those comments about Palace away being the turning point and yet we end up with Lovren & Skrtel in a back 4 and Gerrard at DM.

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) April 19, 2015"

Winter had provided an upturn in fortunes for the Merseysiders, but spring has turned sour. Rodgers' side have lost three big games this month, following defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League.

At his post-match press conference, Rodgers admitted his side were second best. More bizarrely though, he claimed Gerrard was "excellent."

"

Brendan Rodgers thought Gerrard was, “excellent today.” I realise that he’s obliged to back his captain, but Christ...

— Iain Macintosh (@iainmacintosh) April 19, 2015"

More hyperbole from Rodgers that supporters will struggle to agree with.

Speaking earlier this month to Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail, the Northern Irishman said, "I think if we didn’t get in the top four and we didn’t have a trophy this year, we would be disappointed."

As Liverpool toiled at Wembley, Manchester City comfortably beat West Ham United, thus reducing the chances of a top-four finish for Liverpool and ensuring the season will end in very disappointing fashion.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Liverpool will end the season without either of their objectives achieved: no trophy and no top-four finish. Rodgers may like to praise his players, but he must start looking at why the season will end in such disappointing fashion.

Furthermore—if he remains in the job—Rodgers must address the issue of losing big games when it matters: the defeat to Chelsea last season, the defeats to Man United and Arsenal earlier this month and one win in six Champions League games. This young squad consistently lose the big-pressure games. 

"Sometimes you can want to win too much," claimed Rodgers after Sunday's match.

"

Liverpool lose big games because they don't have the mentality or the ruthless to deal with them. It's that simple.

— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) April 19, 2015"

As the club's most experienced player departs this summer, Liverpool must sign players with proven quality and experience—players who can help to win these big games. They simply cannot rely on signing youngsters to develop as they need players who can impact the team immediately.

They also need more match-winners, because right now, only Coutinho has the ability to win a game for the Reds.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.