Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said Aston Villa had been the better side after they ended the Merseysiders' hopes of staging an FA Cup final farewell for midfielder Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard, who leaves Anfield at the end of the season, could not inspire his side as they produced a laboured performance to lose 2-1 to Aston Villa in the Wembley semifinal.
"We were very disappointing. I thought Aston Villa were much better than us today, and that's the overriding feeling after the game,'' Rodgers, whose side had led through Philippe Countinho, said.
"We didn't play today -- we looked very nervous for some reason. We're a team that's built on passing and playing it quickly, but we were very disappointing in that aspect and they were much better than us.''
It had briefly seemed that Mario Balotelli, on as a half-time substitute, had equalised -- but the flag went up for offside.
Replays showed that the Italian was clearly onside, and Rodgers said: "It was very clear, it was a very poor decision by the official because he's looking right across the line.
"He should be able to see that the full-back's keeping him at least a yard onside. It was a terrific ball in, he's got a good touch so he's in on goal and he took it through and finished it, so you need that to go for you.''
He said Liverpool "had no energy today" and accused them of not handling the occasion well enough, admitting that he felt Villa had shown more courage.
"Dealing with the occasion is something we need to improve at," he added. "There have been other big games where we have dealt with that very well, but there are others where we haven't.
"Now we have to strive for top-four Premier League finish -- and it is an obligation of this wonderful club to fight until the finish."