Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish admits they paid for their slow start after losing the FA Cup final to Chelsea.
Dalglish was left to lament his side's inability to make an impact until Andy Carroll was introduced just before the hour mark.
"We were excellent for the last half hour, but the game lasts for 90 minutes," said the Scot.
"You can't give a team like Chelsea a two-goal head start.
"It's credit to our lads that they went close to an equaliser after Andy scored, but they had left themselves too much to do.
"I don't think the first hour was a reflection of the quality of the players we had out there but I don't know if that's was down to inexperience."