Liverpool have failed on the big stage recently and manager Brendan Rodgers says it is down to a lack of consistency with their courage.

The Reds were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday to deny them a place in the decider against Arsenal.

It was the third defeat in a big game in recent times after the back-to-back Premier League defeats to Manchester United and the Gunners and Rodgers admits it is a slight problem.

"We need to have the courage now to play better in the big games because we didn't play well enough today," Rodgers said.

"Technically we weren't quite on it. We looked like the occasion got to us a little bit."

Rodgers added: "The players have that courage, you've just got to be consistent with it.

"That ability to build a game from behind and deal with the pressure, it's important."