Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has acknowledged that a lack of goals throughout the side cost Liverpool their place in the Champions League knockout stages.

The Reds, who were competing in the competition for the first time in five seasons, saw their hopes of progression come to an end last night following a 1-1 draw against Basel at Anfield.

Having scored five goals in six games in Europe, including three games back-to-back without getting off the mark, Gerrard admits that Liverpool are missing the presence of Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli.

"We need to get our main striker Daniel Sturridge back and get some more goals in the side," the 34-year-old told ITV Sport. "We need to get Mario Balotelli back and firing.

"That is not to take away anything from the lads who have played tonight and have slogged their guts out. Rickie Lambert has ran himself into the ground tonight, but it has just been a game too far tonight and that has been because of a lack of numbers."

Liverpool now turn their attention to domestic matters, with a trip to face Manchester United up next in the Premier League.