Aston Villa vs Liverpool reaction: Steven Gerrard denied fairytale exit as Villa out-muscle Reds

COMMENT: The bitter taste of failure returns for Reds fans

(Getty)

Liverpool’s crippling inconsistency, which has plagued Brendan Rodgers this season more than most, harbours a bizarre predictability.

The Reds fell to a 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup semi-final to Aston Villa and it had worrying similarities with other recent failures.

It was so clear for all to see, once Villa had dragged themselves back into the Wembley showpiece through Christian Benteke, that Tim Sherwood's men would previal.

Rodgers' men had taken the lead, following Philippe Coutinho's fine first-half opener, but Steven Gerrard was overran by Jack Grealish in midfield as Villa booked their place in the final.

Aston Villa celebrate Fabian Delph's winner (Getty)

While some may describe Villa's Wembley success as a 'shock' there was nothing surprising about the manner which Liverpool allowed them to play right through their backline for Fabian Delph's winner.

As the Reds have demonstrated over recent months, they are more than capable of mounting the sort of upsurge in form which could one day see them finally crowned as Premier League champions.

But, by very definition, an ‘upsurge’ suggests they always have some catching up to do. Unless Manchester City continue to implode, unlikely after their victory West Ham, Champions League football will evade them once more. Another step backwards.

Nonetheless the FA Cup semi-final meeting with Sherwood's Villa gave them an opportunity to exorcize the ghost of another season of missed opportunities and rueful regrets.

Rodgers will undoubtedly point towards long-term injuries, suffered by Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge at pivotal moments, but his side remain the top flight’s proverbial nearly men.

Philippe Coutinho gave Liverpool the perfect start (Getty)

His critics, meanwhile, have already isolated the slapdash redistribution of the £75m received for Luis Suarez as the main reason for their fluctuating fortunes.

Watching the Uruguayan make a mockery of Paris Saint Germain in midweek, as Barcelona all but booked their place in the semi-finals, will have hurt Kopites dearly.

Following five straight victories, before the Arsenal loss, the Reds barely turned up against Manchester United three weeks ago in a defeat which undone all of their hard work. Again, it didn’t come as a surprise.

Their first Wembley outing since losing the Cup final in 2012, just months after winning the Capital One Cup, posed a similar threat to their aspirations. The final piece of silverware in Rodgers’ grasp this term, it offered Liverpool a shot at redemption.

Another year without a trophy for Rodgers (Getty Images)

The Northern Irishman is a popular figure on Merseyside – and rightly so – but another trophy-less campaign may just provoke Anfield regulars to question their manager’s credentials.

In three years at the club, Rodgers has spent a staggering amount of money with not a single new engraving made to their honours list. The bitter taste of failure returns.